US Initiates Fresh Strikes on Iran Following President Trump's Warning
The United States has commenced a new series of strikes against Iran after President Donald Trump indicated he would "hit them hard again tonight". This followed an overnight exchange of attacks on Tuesday.
Iranian state media reported explosions in southern parts of the country, including the port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas, both located along the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command (Centcom) stated that the strikes aimed to "further degrade Tehran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation" in this critical maritime corridor.
Iran has yet to issue an official response, though senior Iranian officials previously warned that any US attack would provoke an "immediate response".
Centcom further commented:
"The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway."
Additional explosions were reportedly heard in the southern Iranian cities of Konarak and Chabahar. Iranian state media also reported the activation of air defence systems in Bandar Abbas.
Background of Recent Military Actions
On Tuesday, the US military announced it had launched "powerful" strikes in retaliation for attacks on three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The following day, Iran claimed to have targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait as a countermeasure.
The period from Tuesday into Wednesday marked the most intense exchange of strikes between the US and Iran since the memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on 17 June.
President Trump declared on Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement established last month with Iran is "over". He added:
"We hit them very hard last night and will probably hit them hard again tonight."
In response, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X:
"We do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valour."
Details of the Ceasefire Agreement and Ongoing Tensions
The MoU between the US and Iran comprised 14 points, including a 60-day ceasefire period intended to allow ongoing negotiations, the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of US sanctions on Iran.
Although the 60-day negotiation window has not yet expired, President Trump has dismissed further talks as "a waste of time."
These recent strikes are not the first since the MoU was signed. On 26 June, the US launched a series of strikes after an Iranian projectile struck a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Additional US strikes occurred on 27 June following an attack on a tanker. However, later that month, both parties agreed to "stand down."
