The United States Central Command announced a new wave of overnight airstrikes against multiple targets in Iran, while U.S. President Donald Trump warned that additional attacks could follow if a peace agreement is not reached.
CENTCOM said in a statement on X that the strikes were launched in response to what it described as “continued and unprovoked Iranian aggression,” adding that the operation began shortly after midnight Tehran time.
Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces threatened to target any vessel attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iranian authorities have described as effectively closed for months. Iranian media reported that two vessels had come under fire.
In a subsequent statement, CENTCOM denied that the strait had been closed, saying commercial shipping continued to transit the waterway despite Iranian threats.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said U.S. fighter aircraft were operating over Iran and claimed he had spoken directly with Iranian officials. According to Trump, Iranian representatives requested a halt to the bombing campaign, adding that “the bombing will stop soon.”
He also stated that Israel was not involved in the latest strikes.
At the same time, Fox News reported that Trump had left open the option of further military action against Iran. Iranian media, however, quoted a senior Iranian official denying that any Iranian officials had communicated with Trump.
Trump had earlier claimed that ships were traversing the Strait of Hormuz without Iranian permission as part of a secret U.S. military mission.
The latest strikes mark a further escalation in hostilities that threaten to reignite a broader regional war, despite a fragile ceasefire agreed upon earlier this year.
Trump told Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst that the strikes would end soon but warned that he would “hit them hard” if Iran’s leaders did not immediately sign an agreement with the United States.
Iranian news agencies reported explosions in several southern cities, including Sirik, Kangan, Bandar Abbas, and Minab.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes were intended to pressure Iran into reaching an agreement to end the conflict. Speaking during a visit to CENTCOM headquarters in Florida, he said the operation would strengthen U.S. military interests and support diplomatic efforts.
Iran accused the United States of targeting water infrastructure supplying several villages, describing the attacks as a violation of international law. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called the strikes “a premeditated war crime” and a serious breach of human rights.
Despite the escalation, diplomatic efforts appear to be continuing. Iranian media reported that a delegation from Qatar arrived in Tehran for talks concerning the latest developments.
The conflict has significantly disrupted global energy markets, contributing to higher oil prices and increasing concerns over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices rose by approximately three dollars following Trump’s latest remarks, reaching around $94 per barrel.
Separately, fighting continued in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese security sources reported that Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people on Wednesday, while Hezbollah announced new attacks against Israeli forces.
Iran maintains that any agreement with Washington should include an end to the fighting in Lebanon, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and recognition of its role in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States, meanwhile, insists that any deal must guarantee freedom of navigation and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran denies seeking to develop nuclear arms.
Reuters
