WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: The United States launched a fresh wave of air strikes against Iran on Wednesday, marking the second consecutive day of American military action against the Islamic Republic as efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict appeared to falter.
US Central Command said American forces began “additional self-defence strikes” at 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time against multiple targets in Iran, describing the operation as a response to Tehran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”
The strikes came hours after President Donald Trump signalled a tougher military approach, accusing Iranian negotiators of delaying progress in talks aimed at ending the more than three-month war.
“We hit them hard yesterday. We’re going to hit them again hard today,” Trump told reporters. “We were really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along.”
Iranian media reported explosions in several locations in the country’s south near the Strait of Hormuz, where US forces had already targeted air defence systems, radar installations and other military sites a day earlier.
Iranian sources said “enemy projectiles” struck the areas of Qeshm, Kargan and Sirik.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated military operations could continue, saying any further action would be both “strong” and “clear.”
The escalation prompted renewed international concern, with world leaders urging restraint amid fears of a wider regional conflict.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned against a return to “full war”, while Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, rejected Trump’s threats and said a lasting agreement could not be achieved through “threats, intimidation, or the use of force.”
Despite the intensifying hostilities, diplomatic efforts remained underway.
A diplomat familiar with the negotiations said Qatari mediators had travelled to Tehran in an attempt to bridge remaining differences between the two sides.
The conflict began in late February when large-scale US-Israeli strikes targeted Iran, triggering regional instability and turbulence in global markets before a ceasefire took effect. The truce has increasingly come under strain in recent weeks.
The war has also disrupted global energy markets. Iran’s retaliation effectively restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that normally handles around one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies.
Trump claimed on Wednesday that US military operations had secretly helped ensure the passage of 100 million barrels of oil through the contested strait.
Financial markets reacted negatively to the renewed fighting. Global stock indices mostly declined, weighed down by rising geopolitical tensions, higher-than-expected US inflation and weakness in technology shares, while oil prices climbed by around two percent.
Gulf States on Alert
Regional tensions intensified further after Iran said it launched attacks on American military facilities in Jordan and Bahrain on Tuesday in retaliation for earlier US strikes.
Bahrain said it intercepted and destroyed several Iranian aerial threats, while Jordan reported shooting down five missiles. Both countries said there were no casualties or significant damage.
Kuwait’s military also confirmed that its air defence systems had engaged what it described as hostile aerial targets.
Iran’s foreign ministry warned neighbouring countries against allowing the United States or Israel to use their territory for military operations against the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, the US military said one of its aircraft had disabled a tanker in the Gulf of Oman that was allegedly attempting to transport Iranian oil in violation of a US blockade.
Russia and China, both key partners of Tehran, called for restraint. Beijing urged all parties to avoid further escalation and work towards reducing tensions.
Iran has maintained that any agreement to end the conflict must also include a ceasefire in Lebanon, where hostilities expanded after the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement launched rocket attacks on Israel in early March.
Israel responded with extensive air strikes and a ground offensive that Lebanese officials say has killed more than 3,600 people. Cross-border exchanges have continued despite a nominal truce.
A medical source told AFP that Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed 12 people on Wednesday, underscoring the broader regional impact of the conflict.
