By Iran launched a retaliatory attack on a US air base early Thursday after American forces conducted fresh strikes on Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz, further straining a fragile ceasefire between the two nations.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed it targeted a US base in response to US strikes late Wednesday on an Iranian naval facility and airport in the strategic waterway. The IRGC warned of a “more decisive” response to any additional American aggression.
A US official told Reuters that the American strikes targeted a military site believed to pose an imminent threat to US forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation came as President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with ongoing negotiations with Tehran.
Speaking at a White House cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump said: “Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal. So far they haven’t gotten there… we’re not satisfied with it, but we will be. We will be either that or we’ll have to just finish the job.”
The White House has dismissed reports of a draft agreement with Iran as “complete fabrication.”
The latest exchange marks another dangerous flare-up in the ongoing conflict. Kuwait’s military reported intercepting hostile missiles and drones on Thursday, though it did not specify the origin of the threats.
The developments come amid high-stakes diplomacy aimed at ending hostilities that have disrupted global oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for energy markets.
Trump, when asked about the impact of Iran negotiations on upcoming US midterm elections, reportedly said he “doesn’t care” about the political calendar, prioritising what he sees as national security imperatives.
Both sides have framed their actions as defensive. The US has described its operations as limited and necessary to protect its troops and maritime traffic, while Iran views the American strikes as violations of the fragile truce.
Regional tensions remain elevated, with the possibility of further escalation threatening to draw in additional actors and destabilise the wider Middle East.
