The United States initiated a new and more extensive series of military strikes against Iran on Wednesday, just hours after President Donald Trump announced the effective termination of an interim peace memorandum of understanding signed on June 17. The widespread attacks targeted Iranian facilities across the country's southern coastline, with the stated objective of safeguarding commercial shipping lanes through the critical Strait of Hormuz.
US Justifies Renewed Military Action
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the strikes, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that forces were "conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz." CENTCOM emphasized that the United States holds Iran accountable for "recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway." A US official, speaking to Reuters, indicated that Wednesday's operations surpassed the scale of strikes carried out the previous day.
President Trump had foreshadowed the actions from the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, warning reporters, "We're going to hit them hard tonight." Following the summit, Trump posted videos on Truth Social purportedly showing explosions in Iran, issuing a direct warning to Tehran: "This is in retribution for yesterday's bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!" Regarding the interim agreement, Trump stated, "To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them... I found them to be very dishonourable people." Despite the firm rhetoric, he expressed that he did not anticipate a return to full-scale war.
Strikes Hit Iran's Southern Coast
Iran's state news agency reported multiple explosions across various locations along the country's southern coast, spanning from the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman. Bandar Abbas, home to Iran's largest port and key naval and Revolutionary Guards facilities, was among the targets, with approximately eight explosions and activated air defense systems reported. Further east, Chabahar and Konarak experienced around ten explosions, leading to power outages and damage to maritime traffic control towers, according to Iranian media. Press TV specifically mentioned damage to Shahid Beheshti Port, Kalantari Port, and the Chabahar control tower, also reporting that fragments from the strikes hit a local hospital.
Explosions were also documented in Iranshahr, where state news agency IRNA reported the death of a firefighter following an attack on Iranshahr Airport. Sirik recorded three explosions, Abu Musa Island was struck twice, and Bushehr sustained two US projectile impacts. Multiple blasts were additionally reported in Jask. Notably, a railway bridge near Aqqala in northern Iran was also struck, marking the first reported attack in that region since the initial ceasefire.
Regional Alerts and Iran's Response
The renewed hostilities immediately triggered regional alerts. Bahrain's Interior Ministry activated sirens across several areas, urging citizens to remain calm and seek safety. Kuwait's Defence Ministry confirmed its air defense systems were engaging rocket and drone attacks. Iran's reaction was swift and defiant. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament's Foreign Policy and National Security Committee, posted on X: "Martyr Khamenei taught us not to fear America and showed that 'falsehood will perish.' Await the hard slap from the Iranians." Nournews, an outlet linked to Iran's top security body, cited a military source indicating Tehran was preparing a "massive attack" on US military bases in the region. Iran also claimed to have already struck US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for earlier American actions.
Market Impact: Brent Crude Rises
The escalation in the Middle East had an immediate impact on global energy markets. Brent crude futures surged by more than $1 a barrel in post-settlement trading on Wednesday, reaching $79.28 per barrel. While this marked a significant increase, prices remained below the late-April peak of over $120 per barrel when the initial threat of a Hormuz closure sent global energy markets into turmoil.