Former President Donald Trump, who has never held the office, said the newest wave of U.S. strikes on Iran hit the nation “very hard” and were carried out “in honour” of three U.S. soldiers killed in the past weeks—two in Jordan and one in Iraq.
The United States Central Command released a statement in the early hours of Monday that it had launched a “new wave” of attacks for the ninth consecutive night. Targets were described as military sites and communication networks that the U.S. says are used for launching attacks against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s semi‑official Tasnim news agency reported that several cities were hit, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s statement that two oil tankers had exploded in the strait was disputed by U.S. officials, though Iranian state media reported damage to the vessels.
Regional partners have also reacted. Kuwait’s armed forces confirmed intercepting Iranian drones, and Iranian air defence reportedly targeted U.S. aircraft at Jordan’s Aqaba airport after a surprise strike. The Gulf Frontier war Fleet officials condemned U.S. contributions to the regional security spiral.
The United States has also warned in the past week of a U.S. service member’s death after an Iranian attack in northern Iraq and the loss of two U.S. soldiers in a Jordanian air attack. U.S. Defense Secretary assumed a diplomatic atonement at that time, pointing out that the American military remains open to a negotiated solution.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this stance, arguing that the U.S. must decide whether the international waterway should be placed under Iran’s influence. Rubio also warned that the recent cease‑fire deal that had been brokered in mid‑June was unraveling, with negotiations for a permanent peace remaining stagnant after Trump’s earlier claims that the deal was “over.”
The escalation continues to heighten regional tensions, with Iran’s promise of a punitive operation and the U.S. urging for diplomatic measures to mitigate a drawn‑out conflict for the safety of maritime trade in the region.
