President Donald Trump has ordered a new series of airstrikes against Iran in response to attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the existing U.S.-Iran ceasefire "over." The strikes are intended to "further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation" in the Persian Gulf, according to U.S. Central Command.
Speaking at a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump indicated that further military action was imminent. U.S. Central Command stated that the United States is holding Iran accountable for what it called "recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway."
The U.S. strikes targeted Iran's southern port city of Chabahar, resulting in power outages in parts of the city, according to Iranian state media. Approximately 10 explosions were also reported in the coastal city of Konarak.
This escalation follows a funeral eulogy for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during which a state-backed speaker publicly called for Trump's death. Earlier, Trump had threatened to reinstate a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key provision of the ceasefire agreement signed last month.
IMAGE1: