The United States initiated a new wave of strikes against Iran, with President Donald Trump signaling an intention to escalate military action following an exchange of attacks that began Tuesday.
Explosions were reported by Iranian state media in the country's southern regions, including the port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas, located on the strategic Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command (Centcom) stated that these strikes were intended "to further degrade Tehran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation" in this critical international waterway.
Centcom emphasized that the U.S. is "holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway." On Tuesday, the U.S. military announced it had carried out "powerful" strikes in retaliation for attacks on three tankers in the strait.
The exchange of strikes between the U.S. and Iran on Tuesday into Wednesday marked the most significant confrontation since a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on June 17. President Trump stated on Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement with Iran was "over," adding that the U.S. had "hit them very hard last night and will probably hit them hard again tonight."
In response to the escalating situation, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X, "We do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valour."
The agreement signed last month between the U.S. and Iran outlined 14 points, including a 60-day ceasefire period for ongoing negotiations, the assurance of safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran. Although the 60-day negotiation period has not yet concluded, President Trump has indicated that he views further talks as "a waste of time."