President Donald Trump has threatened fresh military strikes against Iran, declaring that the United States would hit the country “hard again” following an exchange of attacks between the two sides.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said the US had already struck Iranian targets and was prepared to launch further attacks if Tehran failed to agree to a deal.
“We hit them hard yesterday and we’re going to hit them hard again today,” Trump said.
The latest escalation comes after the United States launched strikes on Iranian military infrastructure in response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.
American officials said the attacks targeted Iranian air defence systems, radar installations and command facilities.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks aimed at US military installations in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait, according to Iranian state media. US officials later said most of the projectiles were intercepted and no casualties had been reported.
Trump accused Iran of delaying negotiations and warned that Tehran would face consequences for failing to reach an agreement with Washington.
“They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price,” Trump wrote on social media.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone, saying his country would not yield to threats or pressure.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqai accused the United States of undermining diplomatic efforts through what he described as contradictory messaging and repeated violations of a ceasefire arrangement.
The conflict has increasingly focused on the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route through which a significant share of the world’s oil supplies passes.
On Wednesday, the US military said it had targeted an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that allegedly violated an American blockade by attempting to transport Iranian oil.
The incident followed reports that a vessel off the coast of Oman had come under attack, leaving several crew members missing.
The rising tensions have rattled global energy markets, with oil prices climbing sharply amid fears that further disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could affect worldwide supplies.
Trump insisted that any future agreement with Iran must permanently prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
At the same time, the International Atomic Energy Agency approved a US-backed resolution calling on Iran to provide additional information about its uranium stockpiles and nuclear activities.
Iranian officials condemned the move, arguing that it contradicted calls for diplomacy while Washington continued military operations.
Iran has repeatedly maintained that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes and denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
With both sides exchanging threats and military action continuing, hopes for a lasting diplomatic settlement appear increasingly uncertain despite ongoing mediation efforts by regional actors.
Discover more from Nehanda Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
