Iran War Live Updates: War in the Middle East Rekindled? Iran threatens “severe strikes” after US air strikes, targeting 3 Gulf countries
The latest escalation came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Iran’s recent attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz effectively ended a temporary truce. The U.S. attack came after Iran attacked several commercial ships off the coast of Oman, which Washington said threatened freedom of navigation in one of the world’s busiest energy corridors.
Thursday’s fighting was the most serious clashes since the ceasefire was announced. Air-raid sirens sounded at least twice in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, while Kuwait said its military was intercepting incoming missiles and drones. There were no immediate reports of damage in Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar.
The U.S. military said the attack was aimed at “further degrading” Iran’s ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which handled about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the conflict erupted on February 28.
Iranian state media reported explosions in multiple locations, including Bushehr, home to Iran’s nuclear power plant, and the southern port cities of Chabahar, Konark, Bandar Abbas and Sirik.
After leaving a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump shared videos on social media that he said showed explosions in Iran and warned Tehran against any future attacks on shipping.
“This is retaliation for the Iranian ship bombing yesterday. If it happens again, the situation will be worse!” he wrote.
Earlier in the day, Trump had hinted that the military operation would not become a protracted campaign.
“Anything that happens happens very quickly,” he said, adding that the United States could also “get it done.”
He also reiterated previous threats to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including power stations and desalination plants, and to seize the country’s main oil export hub on Kharg Island.
The latest U.S. strikes follow attacks on three commercial oil tankers on Tuesday. Iran responded by targeting U.S. military installations across the Persian Gulf.
Iran insists the temporary ceasefire allows it to regulate traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf defended Tehran’s position in a post on X.
“America still doesn’t realize that bullying and broken promises no longer come without a cost. Let me put it bluntly: If you strike, you will get hit,” he wrote.
Trump’s comments raised new doubts about the future of the ceasefire, saying the deal was effectively “over” even as he allowed diplomatic efforts to continue.
