The United States launched a new wave of airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, which Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth described as 'self-defense strikes.' The attacks come just hours after President Donald Trump warned he would order further military action, expressing frustration over stalled peace negotiations. Hegseth stated that Central Command would be 'busy tonight' and that the military would target 'key facilities in Iran' to pressure Tehran into a deal.
'If we need to negotiate with bombs, we'll negotiate with bombs, and we're very good at it,' Hegseth told reporters.
The escalation follows the downing of an American Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, which prompted U.S. retaliatory strikes.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, declared that Iran had 'taken too long to negotiate' and would now 'pay the price.' In the Oval Office, he added, 'We hit them hard yesterday, and we're going to hit them again hard today.' Iranian state media reported strikes on multiple sites near the Strait of Hormuz, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Qeshm Island.
Iran responded with missile attacks aimed at U.S. targets in Bahrain and Jordan, but Hegseth claimed that most Iranian missiles 'missed and were shot down,' causing no significant damage or casualties.
The Pentagon chief also addressed the secret 'Project Freedom,' revealing that the U.S. military has been covertly escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, successfully moving over 100 million barrels of oil.
He asserted that this demonstrates U.S. control over the critical waterway.
Meanwhile, Trump sparked controversy by stating he 'loves' the inflation that has surged to a three-year high of 4.2%, attributing it to the war in Iran. He predicted that prices would 'come down like a rock' once the conflict ends.
The ongoing war and high gas prices pose a political risk for Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections, with Democrats seeing an opportunity to gain control of the House and Senate. Trump, however, dismissed concerns, saying he does not care about the midterms.
In a separate incident, U.S. forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that violated the blockade on Iranian ports, marking the eighth such action since April.
Central Command reported that over 130 ships have turned around after being ordered to do so. Despite the military pressure, Trump has expressed willingness to 'wait out' Iran in negotiations, though he insists that abandoning its nuclear program is non-negotiable.
The situation remains tense as both sides brace for further confrontation.