Fighting over the Strait of Hormuz derailed a preliminary US-Iran deal, with Tehran's renewed blockade driving up oil prices
Fighting over the Strait of Hormuz derailed a preliminary US-Iran deal, with Tehran's renewed blockade driving up oil pricesUS President Donald Trump has threatened to knock out one Iranian bridge or power plant in return for each attack on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, warning he was "not finished" with a war that has already cost Washington $37.5 billion.
"Any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT," Trump wrote on social media on Wednesday, reiterating his longstanding threat to go after Iranian infrastructure. But top US diplomat Marco Rubio maintained Washington is still willing to find a negotiated agreement with Tehran.
"We remain open to working it out in a negotiated way. But right now, they don't seem to be serious about that," Rubio said at a Southeast Asia ministers' meeting in Manila. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei had previously said that diplomatic exchanges with Washington through mediators were continuing. On Wednesday afternoon, a US missile hit Larak island in the strait, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported, saying the extent of the damage was being investigated.
Trump has faced intense political pressure to end the US-Israel war on Iran, which is unpopular even with segments of his political base as it nears its five-month mark. Critics have pointed to the cost, which Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday had soared to $37.5 billion, defending a request for tens of billions in additional funding for the military.
But Trump himself has so far bucked the pressure, saying on Tuesday: "We're not finished at all... we're not leaving right now.
"The US military said it had launched an eleventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran, saying it targeted military sites to "further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz". Trump had said earlier that the next US target could be an underground complex known as Pickaxe Mountain, or Kolang in Persian, a site near Natanz where Western intelligence agencies suspect Iran is building an undeclared nuclear enrichment facility.
Bulgaria authorises deployment of US refuelling aircraft, personnel for Middle East operationsBulgaria authorises deployment of US refuelling aircraft, personnel for Middle East operationsIran threatened reprisals, with the Khatam Al-Anbiya military command saying it would "consider it as an expansion of war" if such an attack were carried out, threatening strikes on "all the interests of America, the allies and supporters", the state broadcaster reported. Foreign ministry spokesperson Baqaei, meanwhile, insisted that "Washington's obsessive focus on Kolang Kouh where no nuclear activity is taking place is nothing more than a fabricated pretext for aggression, destruction, and sabotage".
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, told the BBC that inspectors "should be there already" in reference to Iran, saying it was important that the IAEA check on Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The threats came as Tehran pressed its assault on targets in US-allied Gulf states. Kuwait's army said its air defences were engaging drones from Iran, while Jordan said it had shot down four Iranian missiles and four drones.
The Iranian military said it targeted US assets in Kuwait and Bahrain, including air defence systems, radar installations and administrative buildings. Tankers reversed course in the Red Sea, raising fears of further oil disruptions after the Hormuz closure. Brent briefly topped $95 a barrel.
Bulgaria authorises deployment of US refuelling aircraft, personnel for Middle East operationsBulgaria authorises deployment of US refuelling aircraft, personnel for Middle East operationsUkraine hit 13 Russian vessels in past 48 hours, drone force commander saysPalestinian woman loses unborn baby in illegal Israeli settlers' attack in occupied West BankZelenskyy appoints Mykhailo Drapatyi as new army chiefIran war costs US $37.5B so far as Pete Hegseth faces Senate scrutiny
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