The U.S. military carried out a second consecutive night of strikes against targets inside Iran late Wednesday, saying the action was a response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels earlier in the week.
The latest exchange has further escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran.
U.S. Central Command Reports 90 Targets Hit
According to U.S. Central Command, American forces struck around 90 targets across Iran during the second round of attacks.
The targets reportedly included missile storage facilities, drone storage sites and air defence systems.
U.S. officials said the strikes were intended as retaliation for Iran’s alleged attacks on commercial ships.
Iran Claims Retaliatory Strikes on U.S. Bases
After the U.S. strikes, Tehran said it responded by targeting U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
The claims marked another stage in the apparent back-and-forth military exchange between the two countries.
Trump Says Iran Ceasefire Is Over
Earlier Wednesday, President Donald Trump suggested more military action could follow while speaking during a NATO summit.
When asked about the ceasefire with Iran, Trump said that, as far as he was concerned, it was over.
He also said he was unsure whether he wanted to reach any agreement with Iranian leaders.
Trump Criticizes Iranian Leadership
Trump sharply criticized Iran’s leadership, calling its leaders “sick.”
He also said dealing with them was “a waste of time,” signalling a further breakdown in diplomatic efforts between the two sides.
The second night of U.S. strikes on Iranian targets has deepened the conflict between Washington and Tehran. With U.S. forces reporting attacks on dozens of Iranian military sites and Iran claiming strikes on American bases in Gulf countries, the situation appears to be moving further away from ceasefire talks and toward continued escalation.