US-Iran War Highlights: US and Iran launch new round of strikes after days of escalation

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Following a wave of US strikes on Iranian targets on Sunday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi released a statement, saying, "No action against Iran should go unanswered."

A spokesperson for the foreign minister also called the US and Israel's attacks "the continuation of a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression."

Addressing Iran's strikes on American assets in the Middle East, the spokesperson said, "Iran’s strikes on US military bases and assets stationed in the southern Persian Gulf constitute a legitimate and lawful exercise of its inherent right to self-defense under international law."

Residents of the village of Khondab in Iran’s Markazi province have reported hearing two explosions, according to Iran’s SNN news agency.

The deputy governor of the Markazi province said the sounds were caused by “enemy projectiles” landing outside the city.

The United States Saturday launched a fresh round of strikes on Iran after an attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the action was taken in response to threats to maritime security in the region.

According to CENTCOM, a Cyprus-flagged container ship suffered “significant engine-room damage” due to an onboard fire after Iran’s military struck the vessel while it was transiting the strait. One civilian crew member is also missing.

The IRIB broadcaster, citing a local official from Iran’s Lorestan province, says US forces carried out two air attacks on the outskirts of the city of Veysian in the western province.

Saeed Pourali, the deputy political, security and social affairs officer, told IRIB that there were no casualties and that conditions in the city are now normal.

The base in the western Iranian city has been hit by “enemy projectiles”, according to Iran’s official news agency, quoting a local senior official.

The attack took place in the morning, and the exact estimate of the human and financial losses is under review, IRNA added.

The base in the western Iranian city has been hit by “enemy projectiles”, according to Iran’s official news agency, quoting a local senior official.

The attack took place in the morning, and the exact estimate of the human and financial losses is under review, IRNA added.

Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia is once again urging the US to comply with the terms of the MoU signed between Tehran and Washington on June 16.

He told the IRIB broadcaster that the US’s intervention to create what he called an “illegal route” through the Strait of Hormuz had caused insecurity in the area.

He said Iran’s armed forces would “firmly” defend the rights of the Iranian people in the strait.

Akraminia added that the army was constantly updating its “bank of targets”.

Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posted a statement on X saying the era of one-sided deals is over, warning that Iran had made clear the other side needed to honor its commitments or face consequences, and that reality was now catching up.

The post included an image of Article 5 of the memorandum of understanding, which deals with reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with the line stating that the Islamic Republic of Iran would make arrangements highlighted.

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has raised the country’s security threat level to high for the second time this morning, urging residents to remain inside their homes or in safe places.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Sunday that its ⁠aerospace ​forces carried out a ​heavy attack on ​US aircraft ⁠carrier support and ‌refueling platforms in the port of Duqm, in Oman, ⁠in ⁠the third stage ⁠of ‌its ​response to what ‌it called US ‌military 'aggression.'

The ​IRGC ​added ​that the operation ​targeted logistical support centres ⁠for US naval vessels.

The IRGC says it has hit and stopped a second “offending vessel” in the Strait of Hormuz.

It warned that the continuation of what it called US-Israeli “aggressions” would result in “even more devastating” responses.

The IRGC says it has hit and stopped a second “offending vessel” in the Strait of Hormuz.

It warned that the continuation of what it called US-Israeli “aggressions” would result in “even more devastating” responses.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched “retaliatory strikes” on the Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, state media reported Sunday morning.

In a statement posted by IRIB, the IRGC claimed it destroyed a control-and-command center and drone storage hangars at the base, using “severeal ballistic missiles.”

The air base is operated by Jordan’s air force.

The IRGC said this was an immediate response to US military airstrikes “against several coastal bases and telecommunications towers along Iran’s southern coastline.”

“The statement warns that any further US attacks would be met with ‘stronger responses,’” IRIB said.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said US forces completed a third round of strikes against Iran this week, hitting approximately 140 Iranian military targets in response to an attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said the strikes targeted missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks and coastal surveillance locations.

“During three nights of strikes this week, CENTCOM has struck more than 300 targets at the direction of the Commander in Chief to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the strait. Commercial vessel transits through the vital international maritime corridor continue,” CENTCOM posted on X.

The United States attacked Iran early Sunday morning over an Iranian attack on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, setting the container ship ablaze and forcing its crew to abandon it. Iran apparently responded with strikes targeting Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The strait has become the key sticking point in any further negotiations between Iran and the United States to find a permanent end to the war that began back on February. 28.

Explosions were heard in Doha on Saturday as Qatar’s government sent a security alert to mobile phones, Reuters reported, citing a witness.

The United Arab Emirates says its air defenses are actively “engaging” with incoming missiles and drone attacks from Iran.

The country’s Ministry of Defense says explosions heard around the country are the sound of its defense systems intercepting the missiles and drones.

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior says the country’s security threat level is high and has urged everyone to remain inside their homes or in safe places.

The ministry called on people to follow safety instructions and avoid unnecessary movement.

Crew members of a container vessel reported damaged near the Strait of Hormuz early Sunday local time were forced to abandon ship, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center said.

Military authorities and officials on-shore told the UKMTO that “the crew have abandoned the vessel and are currently embarked in a lifeboat,” the maritime organization said on X shortly before 6 a.m. local time. It did not give the name of the vessel.

President Donald Trump is suggesting he has left standing orders for the US military to destroy Iran "at levels they've never seen before" if Tehran follows through on its long-standing threats to kill him.

But the US government has no way to create an automatic, preauthorized "dead man's switch" that would prompt immediate retaliation.

Instead, if Trump were killed, the transfer of power to his successor is governed by the 25th Amendment and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. Vice President JD Vance instantaneously would become commander in chief and have authority for any retaliation.

The semi-official Mehr news ageny is reporting more attacks in southern Iran.

It cited a security officer as saying that the cities Hendijan, Mahshahr, and Abadan in Khuzestan province “were hit by enemy projectiles”.

Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency is reporting that air defense systems have been activated in Bandar-e Mahshahr, in the province of Khuzestan, on Iran’s southwestern coast.

It says local authorities have not provided any information on whether any incoming strikes have hit the city.

The US military said it began launching a third round of strikes against Iran this week in response to an attack on a ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces “blatantly attacked” a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and one crew member is missing.

“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.

Iran said it considers the Strait of Hormuz closed once again after a vessel using an unauthorised route was struck by a warning shot in the critical waterway, further jeopardising the already tenuous ceasefire agreement with the United States.

The White House and US military officials offered no immediate comment on the closure, nor did they say whether American retaliation could be coming.

According to the IRIB state broadcaster, at least 12 explosions have been heard in different parts of the province.

These include five in the port city of Bandar-e Deyr, four in Asaluyeh and three in the city of Bushehr.

Meanwhile, the Student News Network TV, an Iranian news agency, citing an IRIB reporter said military barracks in the Risheh neighbourhood of Bushehr was hit and that blasts were also reported in the city of Kangan.

he US military said on Saturday it launched a new round of strikes against ⁠Iran ​after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces attacked ​a Cyprus-flagged container ​ship transiting ⁠the Strait of Hormuz.

"A civilian ‌crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the ⁠journey ⁠due to an onboard fire ⁠and ‌significant engineroom ​damage," the US ‌Central Command said in ‌a statement on ​X.

The ​US ​Central Command said the ​strikes were carried ⁠out at the direction of President ‌Donald ⁠Trump.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported on Saturday that three explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas and two explosions in Sirik, both in southern Iran.

US says fresh strikes target Iran after attack on commercial ship.

A senior US official said American strikes targeted Iranian air surveillance radars, missile and drone storage facilities, missile and UAV launch sites, maritime surveillance radars and surface-to-air missile launchers, Axios reported.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported on Saturday that three explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas and two explosions in Sirik, both in southern Iran.