The U.S. military conducted a fresh series of strikes against Iran on Sunday evening, aimed at further diminishing Tehran's capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump directed U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces to initiate these strikes, stating the objective was to "hold Iranian forces accountable." A U.S. official indicated that this wave of attacks was anticipated to be more substantial than those carried out earlier in the day.
Early reports from Iranian state media suggested that a telecommunications tower near the village of Tahroi in Sirik, Hormozgan Province, which borders the Strait of Hormuz, was among the targets. These strikes followed a significant bombing campaign by U.S. forces on Saturday, which hit approximately 140 targets within Iran. CENTCOM stated that the earlier strikes focused on missile and drone sites, naval assets, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, and surveillance locations. This action was a response to Iran's attack on a commercial vessel and its subsequent declaration that the vital oil transit route was closed.
Following the U.S. airstrikes, President Trump asserted that the Strait of Hormuz remained open, directly contradicting Tehran's claims. "Yeah, it's open. We bombed the hell out of them last night," Trump told NBC's "Meet the Press."
In retaliation for the American airstrikes, Iran reportedly launched widespread assaults targeting American facilities across the Middle East. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for destroying a command-and-control center and drone hangars in Jordan, attacking a radar site in Kuwait, targeting aircraft carrier support and refueling platforms in Oman, and striking a jet maintenance center and command base in Qatar. Additional attacks and missile interceptions were reported in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, both hosting U.S. military bases.
The escalating actions between the U.S. and Iran occur as both nations are nearing the halfway point of a 60-day interim deal intended to lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities that began in late February. Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that the attacks would continue if the U.S. persisted in undermining Iran's control over the economically critical waterway, which facilitates approximately 20% of global oil transport. "The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking," Ghalibaf posted on X.