Washington: The United States has initiated a new wave of strikes on multiple targets in Iran, following orders from President Donald Trump. In a swift retaliation, Tehran directed attacks at US bases located in Bahrain and Kuwait, and targeted two vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
According to Ghana Web, the US military characterized the strikes as a response to Iran's unwarranted and ongoing aggression. Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island and in key locations such as Bandar Abbas and Sirik along the Strait of Hormuz, with additional blasts impacting the southern city of Kargan, injuring at least two individuals.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) condemned the US for repeated violations of a previously established April ceasefire, announcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. This closure is expected to disrupt traffic through the critical waterway, affecting oil tankers and commercial vessels. The IRGC also claimed responsibility for drone strikes on Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air Base, Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base, and the Ahmad Al-Jaber Air Base.
The recent escalation follows a tense exchange of strikes, triggered by the downing of a US Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran reported targeting the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, as well as airbases in Kuwait and Jordan, while the US targeted strategic locations on Qeshm Island and the ports of Sirik, Jask, and Bandar Abbas. Tehran accused the US strikes of destroying water reservoirs and damaging a telecommunications tower.
President Trump, speaking at the White House, accused Iran of delaying peace negotiations and threatened severe retaliation. He criticized the ongoing talks on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing that Iran would face consequences for protracted negotiations. In a subsequent Fox News interview, he threatened to target Iran's critical infrastructures, including power plants and bridges, if no agreement was reached.
In response, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the threats as acts of desperation, emphasizing Iran's resilience and unity against external pressures. The escalating tensions occur amidst slow progress toward a peace deal, with both sides engaged in indirect talks. However, sticking points such as Iran's demand for the release of frozen assets and sanctions relief persist, complicated by Israel's intensified actions in Lebanon against Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
Iran insists any agreement with the US must address the conflict in Lebanon, while Israel views its campaign as a separate issue, further complicating the road to peace.