TRUMP VOWS FRESH STRIKES ON IRAN AS US REIMPOSES HORMUZ BLOCKADE
Read Time:3 Minute, 11 Second
Agency Report
United States President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to intensify military action against Iran as American forces launched a fresh wave of strikes for the third consecutive night and reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Speaking at the White House, Trump warned that the attacks would continue, declaring that the US would strike Iran “very hard.”
“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight, and we’re going to hit them hard tomorrow,” Trump said.
Shortly afterwards, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that military operations had commenced at 2045 GMT, stating that the strikes were aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities and preventing attacks on civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM also announced that a blockade on Iranian ports would resume at 2000 GMT on Tuesday, a development that sent global oil prices surging by more than nine per cent amid fears of renewed instability in the Gulf.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that the United States would become “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT” and announced a 20 per cent fee on all cargo transiting the strategic waterway.
He said while Iranian ports would remain under blockade, other countries would continue to enjoy unrestricted access to the strait.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed Trump’s proposal, sarcastically saying the US President was correct that whoever guaranteed safe passage deserved compensation, but insisted Tehran would charge a much lower fee.
“Twenty per cent is, of course, too much,” Araghchi wrote on X, adding that Iran would remain a fair guardian of the vital shipping route.
The latest escalation comes despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a permanent settlement following the collapse of an earlier ceasefire agreement reached in April.
Trump also threatened to destroy Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified nuclear facility near Natanz that Western intelligence agencies suspect is being used for undeclared uranium enrichment.
“Tell the Iranians to be ready. Let them know we’re coming… there’s not a damn thing they can do about it,” he said during a radio interview.
Although Trump recently declared the ceasefire effectively over, he disclosed that negotiations aimed at securing a lasting agreement were still underway, revealing that several hours of talks were held on Sunday.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, however, said the memorandum of understanding reached in June, which formed the basis for negotiations and temporarily lifted the earlier US blockade, was now “in crisis.”
He warned that Tehran would no longer honour its commitments if Washington failed to do the same but noted that Iran was continuing diplomatic engagements with mediators from Qatar, Pakistan and Oman to prevent further escalation.
Pakistan also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation, calling for restraint from both sides.
Meanwhile, military exchanges continued to intensify.
Iranian state media reported multiple casualties following fresh US airstrikes targeting several locations in the country’s south and west, including areas near Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, where at least four explosions were reported.
According to an AFP tally based on official Iranian announcements, at least 25 people have been killed in Iran since hostilities resumed last Wednesday.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also claimed responsibility for missile attacks targeting US military installations in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait.
Air defence systems were activated across the region, with Bahrain’s military reporting the interception of several Iranian projectiles, while Kuwait said its forces successfully engaged hostile aerial targets. Jordan also confirmed intercepting four Iranian missiles.
Iran maintained that its operations were directed solely at US interests in the Gulf but warned that any regional country assisting Washington’s military operations would be regarded as committing “an act of war.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the renewed hostilities, urging all parties to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation in the region.
AFP
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0