The United States military has initiated new airstrikes against Iran, following US President Donald Trump’s declaration that the interim agreement intended to halt the conflict has ended.
In a statement, US Central Command revealed that these operations aim to disrupt Iran’s capacity to threaten navigation freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The United States is holding Iran responsible for recent, unwarranted aggression against commercial vessels and civilian crews traversing a crucial international passage,” the statement posted on X elaborated.
Local news outlets have reported a series of explosions and attacks across multiple cities in Iran’s southern region.
This marks the second day in a row of US military action targeting southern Iran. Just a day before, US forces claimed responsibility for over 80 strikes on various targets, including Iranian speedboats, in retaliation for prior Iranian provocations in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they had targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait and that they had shot down a US MQ-9 drone attempting to interfere in the operation.
The new waves of attacks come hours after the US president threatened to attack Iran at a NATO summit in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
“We’re gonna hit ’em hard tonight … They violate the agreement every day,” Trump said.
“Anything that happens is going to happen very fast,” he added, suggesting the US military might “just finish the job”.
Trump also renewed past threats to hit Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including electric plants and desalination plants, and to seize the oil production hub of Kharg Island.
The US and Iran have both accused each other of violating the memorandum of understanding they signed in mid-June, which is a 14-point interim agreement to end the war
After both sides traded fire on Wednesday, Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was “over” but added that negotiators could keep talking to Iranian counterparts. He also called Iran “scum” and “cuckoo”.
‘It’s over’
Oil prices jumped 5 per cent after Trump’s remarks.
“I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them any more, they’re scum,” Trump said at the NATO summit.
“They’re scum, they’re sick people, they’re led by sick people, and they’re vicious, violent people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, they’d use it.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”
Trump said he would speak to businessman-turned-negotiator Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who have been dealing with the Iranians, but insisted it was up to Iran to return to the table.
“Frankly, I don’t want to waste my time with them. Now, I’ll let our wonderful negotiators keep talking if they want, but I don’t see it,” Trump said.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them. They’re liars.”
Trump accused the Iranians of repeatedly misrepresenting what had been agreed in the ceasefire that the US and Iran signed on 17 June. Iran also accuses the US of violating the memorandum of understanding to halt the war.
“Everyone’s agreed, no nuclear weapon. We make a deal. They go outside, joke to the press, they say we never even talked about it. There’s something wrong with them, they’re cuckoo,” Trump added.
NATO chief supports US attacks
NATO chief Mark Rutte, with whom Trump was meeting when he made the comments, backed the US strikes on Iran.
“I think what you did last night was absolutely necessary. It was a very strong response, and I’m with you on this,” Rutte told reporters.
On the other hand, a top Iranian negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the US of breaching the ceasefire agreement.
He cited not only the latest US military strikes, but renewed oil sanctions, violations of Iranian “adjustments” in the Strait of Hormuz, and Israeli attacks against Lebanon.
“The era of bullying and extortion is over,” Ghalibaf said in a post on X. “We don’t fold.”