US strikes Iran as Tehran hits US bases across region and closes Strait of Hormuz

The United States has launched another round of air strikes on multiple targets in Iran, hours after President Donald Trump accused Tehran of taking too long to negotiate a deal. US Central Command described the strikes as a response to what it called Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression”. Iranian media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Minab in southern Iran. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it attacked 18 US-linked targets across the region, including military bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. Kuwait briefly closed its airspace. The exchanges are testing the limits of a fragile ceasefire, with both sides trading strikes for a third consecutive night. Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now closed, but US Central Command denied the claim, saying commercial shipping continues to transit the waterway. Live vessel tracking showed movement, although many ships appeared stationary. Further explosions were reported in southern Iran, including Qeshm and Hengam islands, as well as in areas near Tehran and Qazvin province. CENTCOM said its operation, involving the Navy, Air Force and Marines, targeted surveillance sites, air defences and communications infrastructure, describing it as self-defence. President Trump told Fox News the strikes were “vicious and violent”, warning of further action if Tehran does not return to negotiations. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said: “If we need to negotiate with bombs, we will negotiate with bombs.” The IRGC aerospace commander warned that Iran would make the region “hell”, while threatening ships approaching the Strait of Hormuz, which it said would be treated as hostile. Trump also claimed a “secret mission” had ensured the passage of 100 million barrels of oil through the Strait over the past month. However, before the conflict, flows stood at around 600 to 650 million barrels monthly, underscoring continued disruption to global energy routes. Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reports from Tehran and Rory Challands reports from Washington, DC. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #USIranStrikes #CENTCOM #Iran #IranWar #StraitOfHormuz #BandarAbbas #Kuwait #Jordan #Bahrain #USNavyFifthFleet #IranMissiles #IRGC #Trump #IranTargetsUSBases #Qeshm #HormuzClosed #Hormuz #AlJazeeraEnglish