The United States launched a second round of airstrikes against Iran on Thursday, prompting retaliatory attacks from Tehran targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. The escalation comes as a two-month-old ceasefire appears on the verge of collapse.
Explosions were reported across Iranian cities including Tehran, Bandar Abbas and other areas near the Strait of Hormuz. The US strikes were described as more intense than the previous day, though Iran released no details on what was hit. Kuwait closed its airspace, Jordan did not acknowledge the attack, and Bahrain sounded missile alert sirens.
US President Donald Trump vowed to “hit them hard again” after accusing Iranian negotiators of stalling peace talks. The strikes follow the downing of a US Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington blames on Tehran. The US military said its operations were a “proportional response” to the helicopter incident.
Iran’s foreign ministry said the strikes jeopardised ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Mediators from Qatar arrived in Tehran to discuss the situation. The back-and-forth attacks have tested a shaky truce established two months ago, with both sides trading blame for violations.
Trump, facing domestic pressures ahead of midterm elections, has pushed for a peace deal but significant gaps remain. Iran demands sanctions relief and control over the Strait of Hormuz, while the US insists on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
