The US military carried out fresh strikes in Iran on Wednesday, shooting down four Iranian drones and hitting a control centre in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, even as Washington and Tehran continue negotiations to end their three-month conflict.Iran activated its air defence systems after explosions were heard east of the city. The latest escalation also saw an exchange of fire in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran’s IRGC navy firing on a US tanker and the US responding with strikes near Bandar Abbas.The Trump administration also imposed fresh sanctions on Iran’s newly created agency trying to control shipping through the vital waterway, charging tolls as high as $2 million per vessel.This all comes after Trump’s remarks during a cabinet meeting stating that “they want very much to make a deal,” but, “So far, they haven’t gotten there. We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be — either that or we’ll have to just finish the job.”
Here is what we know so far
IRGC targets “American airbase”
The IRGC on Thursday claimed it had targeted an “American airbase” in retaliation for the US military strike near Bandar Abbas, warning that any further “aggression will not go unanswered.”In a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC said the attack was launched at 4:50 am local time against what it described as the source of US “aggression,” though it did not disclose the exact location of the airbase.The IRGC warned that any future military action against Iran would face a “more decisive” response, signalling a further escalation in tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider West Asia conflict.
Strikes in Bandar Abbas
Three explosions were heard east of the southern port city of Bandar Abbas close to midnight, with Iran’s air defence systems activated in the area for several minutes, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported. The cause of the blasts was not immediately clear.Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the IRGC navy fired on a US tanker that tried to pass through the Strait of Hormuz by turning off its radar system. Tasnim also reported that the US then fired in response at the area around Bandar Abbas.The US military later confirmed it shot down four Iranian “one-way attack drones” that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone, a US official told AFP.
US response
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Today, US Central Command Forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz. US forces also struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.”The US official described the actions as “measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire.” The strikes came just days after the US military attacked several missile sites and mine-laying boats in the same area, describing those actions as “self-defense.”Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced fresh sanctions targeting Iran’s newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which is trying to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and charging tolls that could reach as high as $2 million per vessel.
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“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash,” Bessent said in a statement.
Kuwait intercepts missiles and drones
Kuwait’s military reported air raid sirens sounding around 2:30-3:00 am local time, with air defences actively intercepting incoming ballistic missiles and drones.The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces confirmed that any explosions heard were the result of air defence systems intercepting hostile targets. The public was urged to adhere to safety instructions and stay indoors away from windows.No immediate casualties or major damage were confirmed. Aircraft at Kuwait International Airport were briefly held before resuming operations. Kuwait hosts significant US and allied forces, making it a frequent target in the conflict.
Israel’s attack on Lebanon
Israel’s military issued an evacuation warning for residents of the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, saying it would operate against Iran-backed Hezbollah in the area.“The IDF is compelled to take forceful action against it,” the Israeli military’s order said, in reference to Hezbollah. It added that residents of the zone around certain buildings should leave and travel north of the Zahrani River, and that remaining in the area “places you at risk.”The Israeli military said its air force intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” over southern Lebanon shortly after warning sirens sounded in the areas of Ma’ayan Baruch and Kfar Yuval.
Future of talks
Washington and Tehran have been engaged in some of the most intense diplomacy and negotiations in years, aimed at bringing an end to the war and finding a pathway for a longer-term solution. President Donald Trump said Iran is “negotiating on fumes” and that the sides are closing in on a deal even after the US military carried out strikes on missile launch sites and boats placing mines in “self-defense.”“They want very much to make a deal,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting Wednesday. “So far, they haven’t gotten there. We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be — either that or we’ll have to just finish the job.”Trump has said a deal is imminent, but talks are ongoing. The latest strikes and sanctions are likely to cause more complications. The US has blockaded Iranian ports for over a month, and Trump said it “will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”
