US and Iran Trade Strikes for Second Day, Raising Fears of Full-Scale Conflict
Poinews.com – Following a day of escalating tensions, the United States and Iran continued their exchange of attacks on consecutive days. U.S. officials claimed the strikes were a response to Iran’s delay in finalizing a peace agreement to conclude the ongoing three-month conflict. Iranian media reported explosions in southern regions near the Strait of Hormuz, including Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, and Minab. Reports also indicated “enemy projectiles” struck Kargan and Sirik, according to local sources.
Centcom confirmed that U.S. forces had targeted “Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites.” The statement added that precision munitions were used against Iranian targets, which were identified as a risk to U.S. personnel and international commercial vessels in the region. The strikes followed President Donald Trump’s accusation that Iran was prolonging negotiations, with the leader claiming the talks were nearly complete before Tehran “played us for suckers.”
Iranian Retaliation and Regional Impact
In response, Iran launched drone attacks on U.S. bases in Bahrain and Kuwait. Bahrain’s interior ministry issued an air raid alert, advising citizens to seek shelter. Kuwait temporarily shut down its airspace as military forces activated defenses to intercept “hostile aerial targets.” Iranian media noted that the navy also damaged two ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the vital waterway was now “completely closed” and any vessel traffic would face retaliation.
Centcom refuted the claim, stating that commercial ships were still transiting the strait without disruption. Majid Mousavi, head of the Iranian Guards’ aerospace force, vowed vengeance in a social media post: “Are you making the sacred Strait of Hormuz unsafe?! We will make the region hell for you.”
Global Oil Market Reaction
The international crude oil benchmark surpassed $93 per barrel on Wednesday, climbing over 25% since the war began. Trump claimed the U.S. military had covertly allowed 100 million barrels of oil to pass through the contested strait, emphasizing the need for an agreement to end hostilities. The president criticized negotiators for slowing progress, stating, “We were really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along.”
Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth suggested the strikes could continue into a third night, describing them as “strong” and “clear.” He also hinted that the U.S. was prepared to “negotiate with bombs” if necessary, underscoring the military’s readiness to escalate pressure on Iran.
