The United States has initiated a new series of military strikes against Iran, following an overnight escalation of hostilities on Tuesday. President Donald Trump, who had previously indicated his intent to “hit them hard again tonight,” confirmed that the ceasefire agreement established last month is now effectively “over.”
Iranian state media reported multiple explosions across the country’s southern regions, specifically identifying the port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas, both situated along the vital Strait of Hormuz. Additional reports of explosions emerged from the southern cities of Konarak and Chabahar, with state media noting that air defence systems were activated in Bandar Abbas.
US Central Command (Centcom) stated that the operation was intended to further degrade Tehran’s capacity to threaten freedom of navigation within the strategic waterway. The command emphasized that the United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression directed at commercial shipping vessels and their civilian crews.
While Iran has yet to issue an official comment on the latest strikes, senior officials had previously cautioned that any American military action would be met with an immediate response. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, addressed the situation on X, stating, “We do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valour.”
This latest escalation follows a volatile week. On Tuesday, the US military launched what it described as “powerful” strikes following attacks on three tankers. By Wednesday, Iran claimed it had retaliated by targeting US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. Although the 60-day negotiation window agreed upon in the previous memorandum of understanding has not yet expired, President Trump dismissed the prospect of further talks, calling them “a waste of time.”
The current hostilities mark a return to conflict after a brief period of de-escalation. The US previously conducted strikes on June 26 following an Iranian projectile attack on a cargo ship, and again on June 27 after a tanker was targeted. Both sides had agreed to “stand down” later that month, but that agreement has now collapsed.
These are not the first strikes since the MoU was signed.
