Iran's foreign ministry on Thursday condemned the latest US strikes on the country, asserting that the attacks have rendered the nearly two-month ceasefire "practically meaningless." In a strongly worded statement, the ministry described the US actions as "illegal and criminal attacks" that not only constitute a flagrant violation of international norms but also undermine the fragile truce. The statement further declared that "the responsibility for the extremely serious consequences of this criminal act lies with the leaders of the United States."
US military confirms new strikes
The US military confirmed Thursday that it had carried out a fresh round of strikes against Iranian military targets, following President Donald Trump's warning that Tehran would be hit "very hard" if efforts to secure a peace agreement fail. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that its forces conducted additional self-defense strikes at the direction of the commander in chief. According to a statement posted on its official social media account, CENTCOM said US forces struck Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communications systems, and air defense sites across Iran early Thursday. The command noted that US Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets used precision-guided munitions against targets that posed a threat to American forces and international commercial shipping transiting regional waters.
"The strikes are in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression," CENTCOM said, adding that US forces "remain vigilant, lethal and ready." Earlier, CENTCOM reported that American forces began "additional self-defense strikes" at 12:15 a.m. Arabic Standard Time (AST) against multiple targets in Iran.
Trump's stance on military action and diplomacy
President Trump told reporters at the White House that the United States would continue military action while still pursuing diplomacy. "We're going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard," Trump said, citing Iran's downing of a US Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz. The president emphasized that Washington remains committed to reaching an agreement with Tehran. "We want a deal that is meaningful, we want a deal that works," Trump said. He added that Iran had already agreed in principle not to obtain a nuclear weapon, but a final agreement had yet to be signed. Trump also claimed that the United States had been secretly removing "millions of barrels of oil" from Iran, stating that the operation had helped prevent global crude prices from rising sharply.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran would be "unwise" to further challenge the United States following the latest military action. "Right now, they're defensive strikes to ensure we protect our people," Hegseth said during a visit to the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. "Iran would be unwise to challenge us further." Hegseth reiterated that Trump remains focused on securing an agreement that would permanently prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. "President Trump is seeking a deal. But not just a deal, a great deal on behalf of the American people so that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon," he said.
