The United States launched a new round of airstrikes on Iran early Thursday, following President Donald Trump's vow to 'hit them hard again' after stalled negotiations. Iran retaliated with strikes targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, marking the second consecutive day of direct US-Iranian military exchanges.
The American assault, described as more intense and wider than the previous day, hit multiple Iranian cities including Tehran, Bandar Abbas, and other southern areas along the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has not released details of damage. Kuwait closed its airspace, while Jordan did not acknowledge the attack despite a US embassy warning, and Bahrain activated missile alert sirens.
The back-and-forth strikes have tested a fragile two-month ceasefire, which appeared close to collapse. The latest escalation followed the downing of a US Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump blamed on Iran. US Central Command stated the strikes were 'in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.'
Trump accused Iranian negotiators of 'playing us for suckers,' claiming a peace deal was imminent but that Tehran was stalling. He also asserted that the US has been extracting millions of barrels of oil from Iran nightly, keeping global prices at $85–$90 per barrel. Iranian state media reported that previous US strikes hit two reservoirs in southern Iran, leaving 20,000 residents without water.
Talks to turn the ceasefire into a durable peace have stalled for weeks, with both sides trading blame for violations. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson warned that US strikes jeopardised negotiations. Regional mediators, including a Qatari delegation, arrived in Tehran to de-escalate tensions. The US military described its initial attacks as a 'proportional response' to the helicopter downing, targeting air defences, ground control stations, and radar sites.
