The United States military announced on Wednesday that it had initiated a new wave of strikes against targets in Iran, marking the second consecutive day of American offensive operations. The attacks, described by U.S.
Central Command as a response to "Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression," came after President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would face consequences for stalled negotiations. The escalation threatens to unravel a fragile two-month ceasefire that had briefly halted hostilities between the two nations.
According to U.S. Central Command, the strikes targeted "multiple targets in Iran," including air defense systems, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites.
The operation followed a series of Iranian missile attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan—all of which host U.S. military personnel.
Iranian state media reported explosions in the southern cities of Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Minab. Iran claimed that U.S.
strikes hit two water reservoirs in Sirik, temporarily cutting off water supplies to thousands of residents. U.S.
Central Command did not immediately comment on that allegation.
The renewed fighting comes amid a complex geopolitical landscape. President Trump has urged Iran to sign a deal to end the war, suggesting that an agreement could be reached within days.
However, Iran's United Nations envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, told the Security Council that "Iran has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit to pressure or question." The two sides remain deeply divided over key issues, including Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which the U.S. demands be surrendered.
Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and refuses to give up the material without sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets—conditions Trump has rejected.
Earlier Wednesday, the U.S. military disabled the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Settebello, firing precision munitions into its engine room as it attempted to breach a naval blockade with a shipment of Iranian oil.
This was the eighth merchant vessel disabled by U.S. forces in the region.
India's foreign ministry reported that three Indian sailors were missing after the strike, while 21 others were rescued. U.S.
Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins said American forces warned the crew before firing.
The conflict, which began with joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, has shaken the global economy. The international benchmark for crude oil traded above $93 a barrel on Wednesday, up more than 25% since the start of the war.
Trump claimed that the U.S. military has been conducting a "secret mission" to sneak oil shipments past Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz, aided by the destruction of Iranian radar equipment.
He said more than 100 million barrels of oil have evaded Iran's chokehold, though the figure could not be independently confirmed.
Efforts to mediate a deal continued. A delegation from Qatar arrived in Tehran for talks on Wednesday, following consultations with the U.S.
However, major obstacles remain. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears intent on pursuing goals that make compromise harder, including the collapse of Iran's theocratic government, the elimination of its nuclear program, and the destruction of the Iranian-allied Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
On Monday, Iran and Israel targeted each other directly. An Israeli airstrike on a village east of Tyre killed at least six people, and a drone strike on a car in Sidon killed two others, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.
The exchanges of fire came a day after a U.S. Army attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the helicopter collided with an Iranian drone.
It was not clear whether the collision was intentional. A drone boat rescued the two crew members, whom Trump said were uninjured.
As the conflict enters its fourth month, both countries appear to be seeking a way out—if they can sell it as a victory at home. Trump, wary of high gas prices ahead of November congressional elections, is pushing for a quick win.
But his demands, including the surrender of Iran's enriched uranium, remain non-negotiable for Tehran. Iran, for its part, is betting that its ability to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz gives it a strong bargaining chip.
The path to peace remains uncertain.