US President Donald Trump on Thursday defended the latest American military strikes on Iran as an act of "retribution" for the reported bombing of commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz by Iran, warning Tehran that any further attacks would invite an even stronger response.
"This is in retribution for yesterday's bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Also read: Iran: Gulf on boil again as new US strikes mark fresh escalation; fear rises of a return to war
Trump's remarks came after the United States launched a fresh wave of military strikes against Iran, in what was a sharp escalation in the West Asian conflict.
The latest military action followed Trump's earlier indication that the temporary understanding between Washington and Tehran had effectively collapsed, casting fresh doubt over diplomatic efforts that had briefly eased tensions in the region.
US says strikes meant to protect shipping
The US military said the strikes were intended to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after three cargo vessels were attacked while transiting the waterway on Tuesday. Washington blamed Tehran for the maritime incident, saying military action was necessary to safeguard one of the world's busiest energy shipping routes.
The US Central Command said the operations were aimed at preserving freedom of navigation and ensuring the security of civilian shipping and international trade through the narrow passage, which carries nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies. Iran has not publicly acknowledged involvement in the attacks on the merchant vessels.
The renewed hostilities have dealt a major blow to hopes that the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 could pave the way for a broader political settlement. The interim agreement had raised expectations that the conflict, which began after U.S.-Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28, could gradually move towards de-escalation.
Also read: Trump’s Iran ceasefire was built to fail
Iran signals fresh retaliation as tensions deepen
Instead, both sides have stepped up military activity over the past 24 hours.
Iran said it had launched strikes against U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for earlier American operations, raising fears that the confrontation could spread further across the Gulf, where several countries host U.S. military bases.
Earlier, speaking ahead of a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump said he no longer believed the temporary understanding with Tehran remained viable and expressed scepticism over the prospects of any lasting agreement. However, he stopped short of predicting a return to full-scale war, saying it remained unclear whether diplomatic engagement could resume in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported fresh explosions in Bandar Abbas, Chabahar and Konarak along the country's southern coastline, while electricity supply was disrupted in parts of Chabahar following the attacks.
Media affiliated with Iran's security establishment also reported that military planners were preparing a significantly larger retaliatory operation targeting U.S. military bases across the region, signalling that the risk of further escalation remains high.
The latest exchanges have again placed global energy markets on alert, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining at the centre of geopolitical tensions. Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the vital waterway could have significant implications for global crude oil supplies, freight costs and inflation.
