US Launches Third Night of Strikes on Iranian Coastal and Missile Sites

The United States launched a third consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets including coastal defense systems in Bushehr and Bandar Abbas, while Iran’s IRGC claimed retaliatory missile and drone attacks on US assets in Bahrain and an air base in Jordan as President Trump reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports and declared the US guardian of the Strait of Hormuz with a proposed 20% cargo fee amid Iran strikes. [1]

US Conducts Third Night of Strikes on Iran

US Central Command stated the strikes used precision munitions against Iranian coastal defence systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities to degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping, with more than 50,000 US service members deployed in the Middle East. [1] The five-hour mission hit targets across Iran, including in coastal Bushehr and Bandar Abbas. [1] Centcom forces employed precision munitions against Iranian coastal defence systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities. [1] Washington says the operations are intended to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. [2] The US military said its latest mission hit targets across Iran to degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping. [1]

Iranian Retaliation Targets US Assets in Bahrain

Iran’s IRGC announced missile and drone strikes on Bahrain targeting a US forces housing building, weapons warehouses, a satellite communications centre, fuel storage tanks, Patriot radar, C-RAM radar and the Fifth Fleet’s air control radar, though the US and Bahrain issued no immediate reaction. [1] Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had launched missile and drone attacks on the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, alleging it struck fuel facilities and radar systems. [2] The IRGC said its naval and aerospace forces hit a Patriot radar and an early warning C-RAM radar system in Bahrain. [1] The group did not provide evidence to support its claims, and the extent of any damage could not be independently verified. [4] The IRGC claimed the attack hit the US naval headquarters and several military facilities, including fuel storage sites, which it said caught fire. [4]

Missiles Intercepted Over Jordan

Jordanian state media reported intercepting four missiles from Iranian territory, after which the IRGC claimed a ballistic missile strike on a Jordanian air base hosting US forces and called on Jordanians to dismantle American bases. [1] Jordanian state media reported that the country had intercepted and downed four missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory. [1] Later, the IRGC said in a statement published by Iran’s Fars news agency that an air base in Jordan that hosted US forces was targeted by ballistic missiles. [1] The statement further called on the Jordanian people to dismantle American bases in their country. [1]

Trump Reimposes Hormuz Blockade and Fee

Trump announced reimposition of a blockade on Iranian ports effective 2000 GMT Tuesday and a 20% fee on all cargo through the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the US ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT’, prompting mockery from Iranian officials who said Tehran would charge less. [1] Trump said on Monday that the United States was taking over the strait and would slap a levy of 20pc on all cargo shipped through it. [1] Trump declared on Truth Social that the United States would be known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT’ and levy a 20pc fee on all cargo shipped through the waterway. [1] US Central Command said Iran’s ports on the waterway would be blockaded from 2000 GMT on Tuesday. [1] Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded mockingly on X that Trump was absolutely right that whoever guaranteed safe passage should be compensated but that Tehran would charge less. [1]

Attacks on Tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian forces hit two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz according to the UAE and IRGC statements, with the IRGC saying the supertankers ignored warnings, disabled navigation systems and used a mined route, warning of a potential global energy crisis if cooperation with the US continued. [1] The UAE Ministry of Defense later said Iranian cruise missiles struck two Emirati oil tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, while transiting the southern lane of the strait in Omani territorial waters. [5] The IRGC said two offending supertankers were hit and disabled in the Strait of Hormuz. [1] It said the tankers ignored warnings, turned off navigation systems and tried to pass through a mined route. [1] The Guards said the US was inciting vessels to use an illegal route and warned that cooperation with the aggressor enemy would result in damage, delays in reopening the strait and a global energy crisis. [1]

Nuclear Site Threat and Diplomatic Outlook

Trump threatened to strike the entrance to Iran’s underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility near Natanz and stated a comprehensive deal with Iran was still possible despite the escalation, while Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the June interim deal was in crisis but talks continued with mediators. [1] Trump said the United States has extensive intelligence on Iran’s nuclear program and suggested the entrance to the underground facility could be struck. [2] Trump said an earlier memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran had tested Iran’s willingness to comply with agreements but argued that it failed to do so. [2] Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said earlier that the June memorandum of understanding that formed the basis for the negotiations and lifted the US blockade was in crisis. [1] Baqaei said Iran would ignore its obligations under the interim deal if Washington did the same, but added that Tehran was continuing talks with mediators from Qatar, Pakistan and Oman to prevent further escalation. [1]

What to watch next: Trump has instructed US negotiators to seek a comprehensive agreement rather than another interim arrangement, while Iranian officials indicated the June memorandum of understanding remains in crisis yet talks with mediators continue.