A fire was filmed burning in Bandar Abbas, Iran, after US Central Command reported it had launched “powerful” strikes on Iranian IRGC small boats and targets in the country. The attacks came in response to the targeting of three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and marked the collapse of a ceasefire that Donald Trump declared “over” during a NATO summit in Turkey.
“They’re scum,” Trump told reporters. “I don’t want to deal with them anymore.” He threatened to “hit Iran hard again tonight” and claimed to be “number one on the kill list for Iran.” In a rambling press conference, he said: “I like being number one on TikTok better, but I’m number one on the list for killing.”
“Trump declares Iran ceasefire 'over' after US strikes on IRGC boats and shore targets in response to oil tanker attacks.”
Iranian state media said strikes hit Qeshm island, Bandar Abbas, and Sirik. Explosions were also heard in Bushehr and the southern port city of Chabahar, where shrapnel from projectiles struck Imam Ali Hospital, according to local media. A US official told Axios that targets included Iranian military coastal radars, anti-ship missile positions, and air defence systems. CentCom said the operation aimed to “further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz”.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister called the US attacks a violation of the US-Iran memorandum signed last month, warning Tehran would “take decisive measures.” He said: “The criminal and murderous Trump should be spoken to in the language he understands, apparently, that is the language of force.” The Iranian Armed Forces were reported by Nornews to be preparing a “massive” missile and drone attack on US army bases in the region.
Despite the escalation, Trump told the NATO summit he did not think a full-fledged conflict would erupt. But oil prices surged and markets fell after his declaration that the ceasefire was over. The Finnish president, Alexander Stubb, urged Britain to “sort yourself out, please. We need you,” speaking on the sidelines of the summit. As the US prepares wider strikes and Iran vows retaliation, the question is whether diplomacy has any route back – or whether the Strait of Hormuz is sliding into open war.