The United States and Iran exchanged fresh strikes on Thursday for the second consecutive day as tensions escalated over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The vital waterway, through which a significant portion of global oil passes, has become a major flashpoint in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Iran has asserted control over the strait following US-Israeli strikes that began in February, insisting on charging fees for passage.
After attacks on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran was “over,” while leaving room for further negotiations.
He added that any strikes would end quickly.US forces said the latest strikes targeted Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, citing recent Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the area.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported hitting approximately 90 military targets, including missile and drone storage facilities as well as logistics sites along Iran’s coastline.
Iran responded swiftly, with the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) claiming strikes on US bases in Kuwait (Arifjan and Ali Al Salem) and Bahrain (Juffair and Sheikh Isa).
Explosions were reported in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, while Kuwait intercepted hostile missiles and drones.
Iranian state media reported US strikes on a railway bridge in the northeast and a military base in Bushehr, home to the country’s only civilian nuclear power plant.
Explosions also rocked port cities including Bandar Abbas, Konarak, and Chabahar.Trump, posting on Truth Social, described the action as retribution for Iran’s bombing of ships.
“If it happens again, it will get much worse!” he warned.He later revealed that Iranian officials had reached out wanting “to make a deal so badly,” though he expressed scepticism about their intentions.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that the Strait of Hormuz would only be opened under “Iranian arrangements.” He warned:
“If you strike, you will be struck.”The latest exchanges come ahead of the burial of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the war on February 28.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “maximum restraint” from all parties, a plea echoed by Pakistan, a key mediator in the talks.
Maritime traffic in the strait had tentatively resumed after a recent US-Iran deal, but thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the region.
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