The United States launched a new strike against Iran after President Donald Trump signaled “we’re going to hit Iran again tonight” after an overnight exchange of attacks on Tuesday.
Iranian state media reported explosions in southern Iran, including the port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas in the Strait of Hormuz.
After the strike, Trump posted on Truth Social: “This is retaliation for yesterday’s bombing of an Iranian ship. If it happens again, the situation will be much worse.”
Iran has not yet commented, but senior officials have previously warned that it would respond “immediately” if there is a US attack.
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said the strike was carried out “to further degrade Tehran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation” in the vital waterway.
“The United States holds Iran accountable for recent unprovoked attacks on commercial ships and civilian sailors freely navigating vital international waterways,” the statement added.
It was reported that several explosions were heard in other areas of the Iranian coast, including Konarak and Chabahar.
Iranian state TV reported eight explosions in Bandar Abbas and two missiles hit both Sirik and Jask ports in southern Iran.
He added that two projectiles landed on Abu Musa Island, whose ownership has been in dispute for a long time between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to reports from Iranian state media, an air defense system was activated in Bandar Abbas.
The extent of damage from the US airstrikes is not yet known, but Iranian media reported a power outage in Chabahar and a fire at an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) barracks in Bushehr.
Iran Student News Agency said two of the three downed power lines in Chabahar had been quickly restored and the third would soon be operational.
On Tuesday, the U.S. military said it had launched a “heavy” offensive in response to attacks on three oil tankers in the strait.
Iran said on Wednesday it had attacked US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation.
Tuesday through Wednesday marked the worst exchange of strikes between the United States and Iran since the agreement, known as a memorandum of understanding (MOU), was signed on June 17.
Trump said the cease-fire agreement signed with Iran last month was “over” and added that “the United States hit Iran very hard last night” and “we’re probably going to hit them hard again tonight.”
In response to this, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on
The agreement between the United States and Iran includes 14 items, including a 60-day ceasefire period and continuation of negotiations, passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran.
The 60-day negotiation period has not yet ended, but Trump said further talks would be a “waste of time.”
This strike is not the first strike since the MOU was signed.
The United States launched a series of attacks against Iran on June 26 after an Iranian projectile hit a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States launched additional attacks after the oil tanker attack on June 27. However, later that month both sides agreed to “step down”.
