U.S. launches fresh strikes on Iran as Trump declares interim war deal 'over'

The United States has launched a new wave of military strikes against Iran, targeting sites it says threaten freedom of navigation through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, following recent attacks on commercial shipping in the vital waterway.

The operation came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that an interim agreement aimed at ending the conflict with Iran was effectively "over."

According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes were intended to further weaken Iran's ability to disrupt maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz after Tuesday's reported attacks on three cargo vessels transiting the route.

"U.S. Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.

"The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway."

A U.S. official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Wednesday's operation would involve a larger number of strikes than those carried out a day earlier.

President Trump also defended the military action, writing on his Truth Social platform that the strikes were retaliation for Iran's alleged attack on commercial vessels.

"This is in retribution for yesterday's bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!" Trump wrote.

The latest escalation has heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply passed before the conflict began with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28. Although Tehran has not claimed responsibility for the attacks on the cargo ships, analysts believe such operations are often used to strengthen Iran's negotiating position.

Iran, meanwhile, warned of further retaliation. Nournews, an outlet affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, quoted a military source as saying Tehran would soon launch a "massive attack" on U.S. military bases in the region. The warning was echoed by Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

"The aggressor enemy and its accomplices will be severely punished," Rezaei wrote on X.

The renewed hostilities have cast doubt on the future of a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, which had raised hopes of a broader peace agreement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iran said it had targeted U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for previous American strikes on Iranian infrastructure, which Washington said were carried out in response to attacks on commercial shipping.

Speaking before a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump said he considered the interim agreement effectively finished.

"It's a very interesting question. To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them," he said.

He later added, "If we make a deal with Iran, I'm not sure that will stick. I found them to be very dishonourable people."

Despite his remarks, Trump said he did not expect the conflict to return to full-scale war and suggested that any future escalation would be brief.

"Anything that happens is going to be over very quickly … and will only make it safer, including for oil," he said.

The latest military action briefly pushed global oil prices higher, with Brent crude futures rising by more than $1 a barrel in post-settlement trading to $79.28. Prices, however, remained significantly below the late-April peak of over $120 a barrel.