The United States carried out a sixth consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran as tensions between the two countries continued to rise over control of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Both sides have stepped up military actions, raising concerns about regional stability and global energy supplies.
US Targets Iranian Military Sites
The US Central Command (Centcom) said the latest strikes were aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities. According to Centcom, the operation was intended to “further degrade Iranian military capabilities”.
The command also confirmed that US forces boarded a vessel while enforcing a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz.
Strikes Hit Areas Near Strait of Hormuz
Iranian state media reported that US missiles struck several locations near the Strait of Hormuz. The reported targets included areas near Qeshm Island, as well as Bandar Abbas and Bushehr, where one of Iran’s nuclear power plants is located.
Iranian media also said two bridges in Hormozgan province were hit during the attacks. The BBC independently verified an attack on one bridge west of Bandar Abbas.
US Tightens Naval Blockade
Centcom said US Marines boarded an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman as part of the renewed blockade of Iranian ports, which began on Tuesday night. The command also said US forces had “redirected 3 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade”.
According to Centcom, US forces disabled nine ships and redirected more than 140 commercial vessels during an earlier blockade of Iranian ports between April 13 and June 18.
White House Says Trump Still Supports Diplomacy
Despite the continued military operations, the White House said President Donald Trump remains open to negotiations with Iran. “The president will hold them accountable when they turn their back on the words that they state to the United States. But he is always open to diplomacy at the very same time,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Leavitt said Iran had indicated that it still wanted to continue talks with Washington. “We’re talking to them, but again, the president is not going to allow them to fire on ships in the strait without paying a consequence for that,” she added.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed
The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes for oil and gas, remains closed after Iran effectively blocked the waterway following earlier US-Israeli strikes. The continued closure has increased concerns over global energy supplies and maritime security.
Iran Rejects Unfavourable Agreement
Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dismissed the idea of accepting any agreement that does not serve Tehran’s interests. He told state media that Iran had “no reason” to comply with any deal that failed to benefit the country.
Ghalibaf also said Iran’s national security depends on maintaining what he described as “Iranian arrangements” in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest military exchanges indicate that the confrontation between Washington and Tehran continues to intensify, even as both sides leave the door open for possible diplomatic negotiations.