Fighting began as a response to the US reimposing sanctions on Iran in response to attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
By Shula Rosen
Renewed fighting erupted between the United States and Iran after Washington restored sanctions on Iranian oil following attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, setting off a new cycle of military strikes, missile attacks and increasingly sharp rhetoric from both sides.
Iran announced Wednesday that it no longer considered key provisions of its memorandum of understanding with the United States to be in effect, accusing Washington of violating the agreement by renewing military operations and revoking sanctions relief.
Tehran also cited what it described as violations in the Strait of Hormuz and continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon, warning that Iranian forces would strike “the source of aggression” against the country.
The confrontation quickly spread beyond Iran as the Revolutionary Guards said they launched missiles and drones at 85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.
Kuwait condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty and said it reserved the right to respond. Bahrain activated air raid sirens as explosions were reported, while the United Arab Emirates said Iran’s attacks demonstrated that Tehran remained unwilling to pursue de-escalation.
Iranian officials also reported shooting down a US MQ-9 drone over Hormozgan in Bushehr province. Mohsen Rezaee, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, said President Donald Trump intended to launch additional strikes but insisted Iran was “fully prepared.”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X, “The era of bullying and extortion has ended. It leads nowhere. We will not fold.”
Earlier, the US military carried out a wide-ranging operation against Iranian targets. US Central Command said precision strikes hit more than 80 targets, including command-and-control facilities, air defense systems, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities and more than 60 Revolutionary Guard boats operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said the operation was launched in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and warned it was prepared to respond to any additional violations of the agreement.
US officials told Reuters and AP that the operation targeted missile batteries, drone launch sites, port facilities, coastal tracking systems and air defense assets and was expected to continue for several hours.
A separate US official told CNN the campaign was intended as punishment rather than a proportional response.
Iranian media subsequently reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Qeshm Island, Kharg Island and Bushehr. Reports said civilian docks, fishing boats and communications infrastructure were among the sites hit.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian returned from Iraq after attending funeral ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian officials repeatedly accused Washington of violating the memorandum of understanding and warned they would take “decisive steps” to protect the country’s interests and national security.
The escalation began after the United States revoked the license allowing Iranian oil sales following attacks on at least three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian leaders rejected the decision, maintained they had honored the memorandum of understanding and warned that Washington would bear responsibility for the consequences.
Rezaee also accused the United States of attempting to derail the negotiations that preceded the renewed fighting.