American power hits Iran again while Tehran’s threats expose desperation amid collapsing negotiations.
The U.S. military confirmed on Wednesday night that it had launched a fresh round of strikes against Iran, shortly after President Donald Trump warned that more attacks were coming and that Tehran would “pay the price” for delaying negotiations.
Iranian media reported explosions across the country’s south, including near the Strait of Hormuz, after Washington acknowledged the new operation. Blasts were reported in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Minab, and Sirik, highlighting the widening scope of the confrontation.
The escalation threatens to derail efforts to end the war, even as the Trump administration insists that Iran’s stalling tactics and hostile actions cannot go unanswered.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry responded by warning Gulf neighbours that they had a “legal and moral responsibility” to prevent the United States and Israel from using their territory or facilities to plan, support, or execute strikes against Iran.
Tehran’s warning appeared aimed at pressuring Gulf states while deflecting attention from its own role in the growing crisis.
The Strait of Hormuz also became a flashpoint after Iran’s top joint military command claimed the passage had been closed to vessels. However, the U.S. military said commercial ships continued to move in and out of the strategic waterway, undercutting Tehran’s attempt to project control.
Iranian state media later quoted a senior official denying that Iranian officials had contacted Trump following the American attacks. The unnamed official accused Trump of making a false claim to avoid deeper war with Iran.
The latest developments show the region moving through a dangerous phase, with Washington striking Iranian targets, Tehran threatening retaliation and Gulf pressure, and Israel remaining central to the security equation as Iran’s aggression continues to destabilize the Middle East.
