The United States and Iran engaged in a significant exchange of strikes Wednesday, with President Donald Trump declaring an existing ceasefire "over" while also asserting that Iran was "begging" for a new deal.
Hours after Trump announced the termination of a fragile memorandum of understanding due to recent Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. launched approximately 90 airstrikes targeting Iranian sites. A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command stated these actions were intended to "further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation" in the Persian Gulf and to hold Iran accountable for "recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews."
US Central Command posted videos of strikes that took place on Tehran the day prior.
Tehran responded late Wednesday by targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, with sirens sounding in Bahrain, the location of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters. Kuwait's military reported actively intercepting incoming drones and missiles, though there was no immediate confirmation of damage in the three Gulf Arab nations. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait.
Speaking from Air Force One, Trump described Iran's actions as stemming from them being "sort of crazy" but insisted they were eager to negotiate. "They want to make a deal so badly. They just called a little while ago. They want to make a deal very badly. I just don't know that they're worthy of making a deal," Trump said, expressing doubt about Tehran's commitment to honoring any agreement.
Trump had previously stated on Truth Social that the U.S. strikes were retribution for Iran's attacks on commercial vessels and warned of escalating consequences if further incidents occurred. Trump spent much of his evening posting video clips of what were presumably various strikes on Tehran to social media.
The U.S. strikes on Wednesday targeted various military sites and port facilities, following Iran's earlier targeting of several merchant vessels off the coast of Oman. Iranian state media reported explosions in multiple locations, including Bushehr, home to Iran's nuclear power plant complex, and several southern port cities. Authorities reported that a firefighter was killed at an airport in Iranshahr due to a strike.
For the first time since April, U.S. strikes reportedly extended to Iranian bridges, with state media indicating an attack on a railway bridge in Golestan province and the Revolutionary Guard reporting attacks on two bridges near Mashhad. It remained unclear if these were related.
Trump indicated that the recent escalation would not lead to prolonged military action, stating, "Anything that happens is going to happen very fast." He also reiterated past threats to target Iran's civilian infrastructure, such as power and desalinization plants, and to seize the oil-production hub of Kharg Island.
Iranian officials expressed defiance. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stated on X, "America still hasn't learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free. Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you'll get hit." Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi called Trump's remarks "not a sign of power but an admission of the failure" of U.S. policy.
The situation has impacted global markets, with oil prices surging and major U.S. stock market indexes experiencing a downturn following Trump's comments on the ceasefire.
At the heart of the ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are Tehran's nuclear weapons program and its enriched uranium stockpile. The U.S. demands Iran cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons and surrender its enriched uranium. Iran, in turn, seeks control over the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of U.S. sanctions, and the unfreezing of its overseas assets. The interim ceasefire, which Iran claimed granted it authority over traffic management in the strait, has been repeatedly challenged by attacks, adding further uncertainty to the ongoing talks.