The United States military launched strikes against Iranian ports on Thursday, targeting the port of Qeshm and Bandar Abbas, according to a Fox News reporter citing a senior US official. The attacks occurred in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz region, escalating tensions significantly.
Iranian state media reported explosions in both Bandar Abbas and Qeshm island, though the cause of these blasts was not immediately confirmed. The Iranian military command issued a stark warning, declaring it would respond powerfully and without hesitation to any attack.
Following the US strikes, Iran claimed its naval forces targeted three American warships operating near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media, citing an unidentified military official, stated that US vessels were hit by Iranian missiles after an American attack on an Iranian oil tanker. The report claimed US ships were forced to retreat after sustaining damage, though the exact timing of the incident remained unclear.
The escalation unfolded while diplomatic efforts continued. The US and Iran were reportedly moving toward a limited, temporary agreement to halt the conflict, according to Reuters. However, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated Tehran had not yet reached a conclusion on the latest US proposal and had provided no response.
In parallel diplomatic activity, representatives from Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to meet in Washington next Friday and Saturday, the US State Department announced. Meanwhile, Pakistan, acting as a mediator in US-Iran negotiations, emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue and diplomacy to preserve regional stability.
US President Donald Trump stated during a press conference that the United States would remove all enriched uranium from Iran. Additionally, the US approved emergency sales of air defense interceptors and other weapons to Middle Eastern nations, including Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, in deals totaling $25.8 billion.
Iran denied any involvement of its armed forces in damage to a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week. The ship, operated by South Korean company HMM, suffered an explosion and fire, with Trump attributing the incident to an Iranian attack.
Based on reporting from g1.