The US launched more strikes on Iran over a reported explosion in the south of the country
The US has launched a new round of strikes on Iran after President Donald Trump said he would “hit them hard tonight” following an exchange of attacks on Tuesday.
The explosion was reported by Iranian state media in the southern parts of the country, including Sirik and Bandar Abbas – port cities on the Strait of Hormuz.
After the latest strikes, Trump said in a Truth Social post: “This is payback for Iran’s bombing of ships yesterday. If it happens again, it will be worse!”
Gulf countries reported attacks on Iran following US strikes, and explosions in Bahrain’s capital Manama, Kuwait banned missiles and drones, and Qatar issued a security alert.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that it had launched retaliatory strikes on US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain overnight, and called them “the first phase of a punitive response against violators of the US agreement”.
The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also the country’s main liaison with the US, said in X that America “has not learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer punishable”.
“Let me make it clear: if you strike, you will be struck,” he wrote, adding that the Strait of Hormuz would only open under Iranian plans – not “American threats”.
US Central Command (Centcom) said the latest strikes are designed to “degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial ships and innocent sailors” in the vital waterway.
In a statement, it said it had attacked 90 Iranian military targets, including air defense systems and military infrastructure along Iran’s coast.
“The latest strikes follow the successful launch of offensive strikes against Iran the night before,” Centcom added.
Several explosions were reported in other parts of the Iranian coast, including the cities of Konarak and Chabahar.
Iran state TV reported eight explosions at Bandar Abbas, and said two missiles hit the ports of Sirik and Jask – also in southern Iran.
It added that two projectiles hit the island of Abu Musa, which has been the subject of a long-standing ownership dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
Air defense systems have been activated in Bandar Abbas, according to Iranian media reports.
The extent of the damage from the US strikes is not yet known, but Iranian media reported a power outage in Chabahar and a fire at an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) camp in Bushehr.
Two of the three power lines that were cut in Chabahar were immediately restored and the third will be operational soon, the Iranian Students’ News Agency said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Centcom wrote in a statement that it blamed Iran for “recent unprovoked violence against commercial facilities and military personnel moving freely along an important international waterway.”
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Wednesday evening, the US president said Iran “made a phone call not too long ago” and wanted to make a “very bad” deal.
Trump added: “I just don’t know if they’re going to make a deal — I don’t know if they’re going to honor the deal, that’s the problem.”
