U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed an additional round of airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday, targeting dozens of military objectives near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s coastal areas for the fourth consecutive night.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said that fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and warships launched precision-guided munitions against Iranian missile sites, drone positions, naval capabilities, and coastal defense systems during a seven-hour operation aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels and their civilian crews.
CENTCOM added that the strikes took place on the same day that U.S. forces resumed the naval blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
It affirmed that U.S. forces will remain vigilant, strong, and ready to carry out operations directed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
On Tuesday, Iran warned that the United States’ announcement of the resumption of the naval blockade on its ports had undermined the memorandum of understanding with Washington intended to halt the war in preparation for peace talks.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to reimpose the blockade had “in one way or another undermined the memorandum of understanding” that had been reached through Pakistani mediation.
Among the consequences of this escalation, which is primarily centered on disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz—a vital route for global energy supplies—Brent crude rose by 5.1% to $87.51 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 3.9% to $81.21 per barrel.
U.S. President Donald Trump had said that U.S. strikes on Iran would continue until he determined they had gone far enough, adding that Washington had urged Tehran to reach an agreement.
Trump also said in remarks to Fox News that U.S. representatives held talks with Iran on Tuesday, noting that Tehran was still showing “some resistance, but not much.”
He confirmed that he would expand the scope of U.S. strikes on Iran next week to include power stations and bridges if Tehran does not reach an agreement.
