The United States has launched new military strikes against Iran, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump vowed at a NATO summit to "hit them hard." The operation targets Tehran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command Confirms Additional Strikes
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces had begun "additional strikes" against Iran, citing "recent unjustified aggression" against civilian shipping. A CENTCOM statement said: "At the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."
On Tuesday, July 7, the US confirmed it had already struck more than 80 Iranian targets in a "series of powerful strikes" after Tehran allegedly attacked three commercial vessels in the strategic waterway. According to the UN International Maritime Organisation, three civilian vessels were struck in the strait earlier that day, though Iran did not claim responsibility for any of the attacks.
Trump's Ultimatum at NATO Summit
Speaking at the annual NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7 and 8, President Trump declared: "If we make a deal with Iran, I'm not sure that will stick because I found them to be very dishonourable. We hit them very hard last night, very, very hard," adding that the US will "probably hit them hard again tonight." He also issued a stark ultimatum: "We're either going to have a deal or we're going to have a war."
Trump's comments triggered a surge in oil prices, with Brent crude leaping approximately 6.5% to $79 a barrel on Wednesday morning after his announcement that a fragile ceasefire had collapsed.
Background of Conflict
The strikes come after months of sporadic conflict and intensive diplomatic wrangling between Washington and Tehran. Although a two-week ceasefire was brokered in April and subsequently extended indefinitely, the situation across the Middle East remains tense.
The US has vowed to hold Iran accountable for threats to commercial shipping and civilian crews navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international waterway. CENTCOM's statement emphasized that the United States is "holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway."
