United States launched strikes on Iran for the third consecutive night, marking a new escalation in the resumption of hostilities. The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said it struck areas around Abu Musa, Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Chahbahar, Jask and Konarak, targeting Iranian coastal defence systems, missile and drone sites and maritime capabilities. Iran acknowledged the strikes but did not report any casualties or damage. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, the strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran responded with attacks targeting Bahrain, Jordan and two tankers associated with the United Arab Emirates travelling through the strait, killing one mariner and injuring eight others. The Emirati Defence Ministry said the attack on the tankers killed one Indian national and injured six Indians and two Ukrainians. Jordan’s military said it intercepted four missiles from Iran. US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear site near Natanz where Western intelligence suspects Iran is building an undeclared enrichment facility.
Earlier yesterday, President Donald Trump announced that the US will reinstate a blockade on Iranian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20 per cent charge on cargo transiting the strategic waterway to cover the cost of maritime security. In a social media post, President Trump said the blockade would apply only to Iranian ships and vessels trading with Iran. He added, the Hormuz Strait is open, and will remain open, with or without Iran. He assured that commercial traffic from other countries would continue to have free passage.
On the other hand, Iran has asserted its authority over the Strait of Hormuz and rejected the US move. According to Iranian state media, Central Headquarters spokesperson Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaghari said Iran will not, under any circumstances, allow the US to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz. He also warned that any regional country providing logistical support to US forces would be regarded as committing an act of war against Iran.
