The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, targeting military sites and port facilities, hours after President Donald Trump declared an interim ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Persian Gulf war to be over. Iran responded by striking Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Sirens sounded in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters, at least twice. Kuwait's military reported actively intercepting incoming drones and missiles. There were no immediate reports of damage in the three Gulf Arab countries.
According to military officials, the strikes were intended to "further degrade" Iran's ability "to threaten freedom of navigation" in the Strait of Hormuz. This waterway is crucial for global energy shipments, with a fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas passing through it before the war began.
Iranian state media reported explosions in multiple locations, including Bushehr, which houses Iran's nuclear power plant complex, and the southern port cities of Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Abbas, and Sirik.
Escalation and Retaliation
President Trump, speaking after a NATO summit in Turkey, posted videos of what he described as explosions in Iran and issued a stark warning. "This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!" Trump wrote on social media. Earlier, he had indicated that the recent exchanges would not lead to "long-term" military action, though he also suggested the U.S. military might "just finish the job."
Trump reiterated past threats to target Iran's civilian infrastructure, including power and desalinization plants, and to seize the oil-production hub of Kharg Island. The U.S. had launched strikes on Iran on Wednesday following Iran's targeting of several merchant vessels off the coast of Oman, which had sparked Iranian fire.
Iran has maintained that the interim ceasefire agreement grants it the right to manage traffic through the strait. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran's Parliament Speaker and a key negotiator, 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."
Fears of Renewed Conflict
Trump's declaration that the interim agreement was "over," despite allowing negotiations to continue, fueled concerns about a potential resumption of hostilities. Oil prices surged following his comments. A renewed conflict could destabilize the broader Middle East and disrupt energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
When asked about the ceasefire's status, Trump responded, "For me, I think it’s over." He added that U.S. representatives could continue talks but expressed skepticism about their success. "They can talk, but I think they’re wasting their time," he said.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, also a negotiator, countered on X that Trump's statements were "not a sign of power but an admission of the failure" of U.S. policy toward Iran.
Trump has previously threatened to seize Kharg Island, through which approximately 90% of Iranian oil exports pass. His comments last month on this matter included questioning whether the U.S. "has the stomach for it."
Negotiations and Internal Divisions
The recent attacks on ships, occurring despite ongoing negotiations, may indicate divisions within Iran's leadership. Hard-line factions reportedly favor continued control over the waterway, a vital global shipping conduit and a tool for confronting the West. Pragmatists, however, seek a permanent peace deal to secure the lifting of international sanctions and achieve much-needed economic recovery.
Negotiations for a final agreement were scheduled to commence after the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the war's outset on Feb. 28. The funeral, concluding Thursday, was intended to be a period of reduced tensions. The talks are intended to address critical issues, including the full reopening of the strait and the rollback of Iran's nuclear program.