President Trump pledged to continue military operations against Iran after the U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes for a second consecutive day. Trump announced that American forces launched strikes on multiple Iranian targets and promised additional attacks, telling reporters "We're going to hit them hard again today."
The escalation follows the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter over the strait of Hormuz, which Trump has blamed on Iran. U.S. Central Command described the strikes as a "proportional response," saying the helicopter's two crew members were rescued. The military said it targeted Iranian air defenses, ground control stations, and radar sites.
Iran responded by striking targets in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. Kuwait closed its airspace during the Thursday morning attack. Explosions were reported across Iran, including around Tehran and the port city of Bandar Abbas near the strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported that previous U.S. strikes had hit water reservoirs in southern Iran, leaving 20,000 residents without water.
The back-and-forth attacks mark the third round of escalation this week and have pushed the two-month-old ceasefire to the brink of collapse. Trump accused Iranian negotiators of "playing us for suckers" and said the U.S. was "really close to a deal" before talks stalled. He claimed Iran was deliberately delaying negotiations.
Trump also made an unusual claim about American oil operations in Iran, stating "We've been taking out millions of barrels of oil, millions of barrels every night" without providing details. He suggested this activity was keeping oil prices lower than they would otherwise be.
The military conflict has created economic pressure at home, with inflation rising to 4.2 percent annually in May, the third consecutive monthly increase since the war began. Gas prices have also climbed, with the national average around $4.16 per gallon.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have stalled for weeks over fundamental disagreements. Iran is seeking the lifting of international sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and control over the strait of Hormuz. The U.S. insists any peace deal must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran denies seeking nuclear capabilities.
A significant obstacle remains the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon. Iran has demanded that any ceasefire include the Lebanese front, while Israel and the U.S. want to keep the two conflicts separate.
Regional mediators, including a delegation from Qatar, have been attempting to de-escalate the situation. Trump has frequently threatened to resume military action since the ceasefire began, and has now followed through on those threats as diplomatic efforts continue alongside the military campaign.