The United States military has carried out another round of strikes on Iran, according to a U.S. official, in a development that has further tested the fragile ceasefire between both countries.
The official, who confirmed the operation on Wednesday, described the strikes as defensive in nature, saying they targeted an Iranian military site considered a threat to American troops and commercial maritime traffic.
Despite the latest attacks, the official maintained that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran was still holding.
The latest strikes came just two days after the U.S. Central Command confirmed an earlier series of what it described as “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran. Those operations reportedly targeted missile launch sites and Iranian boats allegedly attempting to lay mines in the region.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command, Capt. Tim Hawkins, said the earlier strikes were carried out to protect American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.
Iran, however, condemned the previous attacks, describing them as a “grave violation of the ceasefire” and warning that the Iranian government would not leave any hostile act unanswered.
The renewed military operations come as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to pressure Iran to agree to a long-term deal with Washington, while also threatening to resume a broader bombing campaign if Tehran rejects U.S. conditions.
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Over the weekend, Trump had expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations, stating that a peace agreement had been “largely negotiated.” However, by Wednesday, the president appeared less certain during a Cabinet meeting, where he admitted the United States was “not satisfied” with the situation.
“Maybe we have to go back and finish it, maybe we don’t,” Trump said, while adding that he believed Iran still wanted to reach an agreement.
The latest developments have heightened global concerns over tensions in the Middle East, with observers warning that further military confrontations could destabilise the already fragile ceasefire arrangement between both countries.
