US Military Strikes Iranian Coastal Areas Amid Rising Gulf Tensions
The United States military has carried out a new series of strikes on Iranian coastal areas, including port cities on the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media and US Central Command (Centcom).
Explosions were reported in the southern Iranian cities of Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Konarak, and Chabahar. Iranian state television said eight explosions occurred in Bandar Abbas and that two missiles hit the ports of Sirik and Jask, while two projectiles struck Abu Musa island, which is disputed between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
Centcom stated that the strikes aimed to “further degrade Tehran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments. The command added that the United States is “holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews.”
Iran has not officially commented on the strikes, but officials earlier warned of an immediate response to any US attack. Air defence systems were activated in Bandar Abbas, and Iranian media reported power cuts in Chabahar and a fire at an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) barracks in Bushehr. Two of three power lines cut in Chabahar were later restored.
The strikes follow an exchange of attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday, described as the worst between the two countries since a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on 17 June. Under the MoU, a 60-day ceasefire was to allow negotiations, ensure safe passage through the Strait, and involve US sanctions relief.
On Tuesday, the US military launched strikes in response to attacks on three tankers in the strait. On Wednesday, Iran said it struck US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement was “over,” stating he would “hit them hard again tonight.” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on X: “We do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valour.”
This is not the first violation of the MoU. US strikes on 26 and 27 June followed Iranian attacks on shipping. Both sides later agreed to a temporary de-escalation. The 60-day negotiation period has not expired, but Trump has called further talks “a waste of time.”
The extent of damage from the latest strikes remains unclear. The situation underscores ongoing volatility in the region, with the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of US-Iran tensions.
