U.S. forces started an additional round of strikes against Iran on the afternoon of July 15 after early-morning attacks that targeted an island near the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The new strikes involved Iran’s “military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said in a statement on X. The military did not say where the attacks occurred.
“The U.S. military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief’s direction,” the CENTOM post states.
The reason for the strikes was also to degrade Iran’s capacity to launch attacks on shipping in the strait, a key waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean and that is used to transport about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil in peacetime.
Since the past weekend, the United States has continued to strike Iranian targets after Tehran attacked commercial ships in the strait this month. A memorandum of understanding that established a framework for a peace deal signed by Tehran and Washington is effectively over, U.S. President Donald Trump has said.
In a new warning on the evening of July 14, Trump told Fox News that the United States will soon target Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, if Iranian officials do not return to the negotiating table.
“I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets,” the U.S. president told Fox News reporter Trey Yingst on July 14.
“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight. We’re going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We’re going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them because next week come the power plants. Next week come the bridges.”
Before a ceasefire was announced in April, ending a previous wave of fighting that started on Feb. 28, Trump also said the military would launch attacks against power plants and bridges. He also said a “whole civilization will die” if the Iranian regime refuses to negotiate.
Trump has called for Iran to end its controversial nuclear program, open the Strait of Hormuz, and dilute or hand over enriched uranium that is believed to be buried following a round of strikes launched by the United States and Israel last summer.
While speaking to Fox News, the president was asked whether he would attempt to seize Kharg Island, a key oil production port used by Iran, but he said it was not likely—for now.
“I think it’s unlikely,” Trump said. “If we degrade them far enough and deep enough back, I would do that.”
Responding to the July 15 strikes, an Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, Esmaeil Baghaei, told state-run media that no negotiations with the United States are planned and that Tehran is focused on defense against the fresh U.S. activity.
“We currently have no plans for negotiations and are focused on defense,” Baghaei said, according to Iran’s PressTV.
