Fresh explosions rattled southern Iran overnight as the United States launched a new round of strikes, a move that came just hours after President Donald Trump warned of further attacks unless a peace dealis secured.
US Central Command said on X that it hit multiple targets, describing the operation as retaliation for what it called Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression,” and adding that the strikes began after midnight in Tehran.
Iran’s top joint military command answered with a threat aimed at one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, saying it would fire on any vessel attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed for months.
Iranian media reported that two ships were fired upon.
The same command said Iran’s armed forces would deliver a “crushing and decisive” reponse to any “agression” by the US in the region.
The overnight strikes mark the latest turn in a widening cycle of attacks that has pushed the rivals toward renewed full-scale conflict, after fighting was paused in early April by a fragile ceasefire agreement.
Iranian news agencies said blasts were heard in several southern cities, including Sirik, Kangan, Bandar Abbas and Minab.
“We’re going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard,” Mr Trump told reporters yesterday at the White House.
Later, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking during a visit to Central Command in Florida, said the strikes would “advance our military interests and also enhance our diplomatic position”.
“We will strike them hard tonight and hopefully Iran makes a good decision,” he said.
“If we need to negotiate with bombs, we’ll negotiate with bombs,” he added.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said a deal is close
Since the tentative ceasefire took hold, Washington and Tehran have exchanged fire several times, even as negotiators have tried — without success — to bring the three-month-old war to an end.
President Trump has repeatedly said a deal is close, though there has been no sign of a breakthrough, while also threatening to resume bombing.
On Tuesday, the US military struck air defences and radar sites around the Strait of Hormuz, a day after a US attack helicopter was downed near the strategic waterway on Monday.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on US bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.
A US official said there was no significant damage.
Iran accused the US of hitting reservoirs that supplied drinking water to 10 villages and violating international law.
“This is not collateral damage – it is a calculated war crime and a flagrant violation of human rights,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghei said.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Iran has blocked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz
Mr Trump, who has previously threatened to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure, did not say whether the coming strikes would include power plants and bridges.
Head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee Ebrahim Azizi warned in response that the “war won’t be limited to the region”.
Even as both sides sharpened their rhetoric, diplomatic efforts appeared to continue.
Iranian media reported that a delegation from Qatar — which has been mediating between the United States and Iran — arrived in Tehran yesterday for talks on the latest developments.
The war has killed thousands and disrupted roughly one-fifth of the world’s supply of oil and natural gas, pushing prices sharply higher.
Iran has blocked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while the US has maintained its own blockade on Iranian ports.
Oil prices rose nearly $3 after Mr Trump’s threat of escalation, reaching $94 (€81) per barrel.
Mr Trump said vessels carrying 100 million barrels of oil have defied Iran to travel through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a secret military mission.
He said oil prices would be much higher without the effort.
Mr Hegseth said ships have been transiting the waterway “in the middle of the night, protected by the United States in a way that Iran can’t stop, they can’t see it”.
Israeli airstrikes kill 13 in south Lebanon
Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people yesterday
In a separate development, the US military said it disabled an oil tanker transporting Iranian crude in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, for a second consecutive day.
Meanwhile, fighting in a parallel war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon has continued.
Lebanese security sources said Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people yesterday, while Hezbollah claimed fresh attacks against Israeli forces.
Tehran’s demands include an end to Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, the lifting of sanctions on Iran, the release of billions of dollars in frozen assets and recognition of its control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr Trump said Iran must end its restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
He also said any peace deal must ensure Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon.
Iran denies any such ambition.
The UN nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation Board of Governors passed a US-backed resolution yesterday telling Iran to declare its remaining enriched uranium stocks and let inspectors verify them.
Iran branded the resolution as “political”.
