U.S. launches – The U.S. began another round of airstrikes on Iran after President Donald Trump warned Tehran would “pay the price” for stalled negotiations, as Iran responded with attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait. The exchanges have put a two-month ceasefire under repeated stra
Explosions echoed across Tehran into Thursday morning as the U.S. pushed forward with another round of airstrikes on Iran, even as negotiations toward ending the war appeared stalled.
President Donald Trump had warned that Tehran would “pay the price” for negotiations that he said were going nowhere. Hours later, Iran fired back—targeting Bahrain and Kuwait—and Kuwait closed its airspace as its air defenses fought off the attack.
The latest assault came after the third round of back-and-forth strikes this week tested a two-month ceasefire. underscoring how thin the restraint has become. Trump has urged Iran to sign a deal to end the war. and earlier this week suggested an agreement could be reached in days. Iran. for its part. has framed its posture as non-negotiable—insisting it would maintain its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. a passage that has disrupted global energy supplies and pushed oil prices higher.
In comments delivered to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Iran’s United Nations envoy said the U.S. should refrain from threats of force if it wants a deal. “Iran has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit to pressure or question. ” Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the council.
U.S. Central Command said it had “completed” its latest round of airstrikes just before sunrise in Iran. describing the strikes as an immediate response to “Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.” The command said the targets included “Iranian military surveillance capabilities. communication systems and air defense sites. ” carried out by the U.S. Air Force, Marines and Navy. It did not elaborate on the damage.
Iran’s retaliation extended beyond its borders. Iran launched strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait. Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said flights were being diverted to other airports, without giving additional details.
“This measure comes in light of the state of Kuwait being subjected to sinful Iranian aggressions and the potential risks that may result from this on civil aviation traffic in the region,” Kuwait said.
The warning comes after Kuwait International Airport took a direct Iranian hit in recent days, killing one person and wounding dozens. Iran also responded on Wednesday with attacks that targeted Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan—countries that host U.S. troops.
In northern Israel, the escalation also reverberated. Israel warned residents in the north to seek shelter after detecting suspected incoming fire from Lebanon.
Beyond the airspace closures and warnings, the conflict has been reshaping daily life through the cost of disruption. Since the U.S. and Israel began the war with Feb. 28 attacks on Iran. the fighting has shaken the global economy. driven up energy prices worldwide. and pushed food and other basics higher.
The international benchmark for crude oil traded above $93 a barrel on Wednesday—up more than 25% since the start of the war.
Trump claimed the U.S. has carried out what he called a “secret mission” since last month to sneak oil shipments past Iran’s forces in the Strait of Hormuz. He said ships were slipping through at night. aided by the destruction of Iranian radar equipment. and said more than 100 million barrels of oil have evaded Iran’s chokehold. There was no immediate confirmation of that figure. which roughly equals five days of oil shipments through the waterway before the war began.
Capt. Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesman, said U.S. forces “communicate and coordinate” with commercial ships in the area, but gave no details about any military support.
On Wednesday, Central Command refuted Iranian claims that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, saying commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out.
The new U.S. strikes arrived after another tense episode at sea. Earlier Wednesday, the U.S. military said an American aircraft fired “precision munitions” into the engine room of the Palau-flagged vessel M/T Settebello as it attempted to breach the naval blockade while carrying a shipment of Iranian oil. The U.S. military said it was the eighth merchant vessel disabled by U.S. forces in waters off Iran.
India’s foreign ministry said three Indian sailors were missing after the Settebello was struck, while 21 others were rescued. Its statement did not mention the U.S. military or the blockade. Hawkins said American forces warned the crew before firing.
The U.S. military said the earlier strikes targeted “air defense, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites.” Iran, meanwhile, said U.S. strikes hit two water reservoirs in the southern city of Sirik, temporarily cutting off water to thousands of people. Central Command had no immediate comment. Tehran later claimed attacks in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the American attacks as a violation of Iranian sovereignty.
Even with the fighting accelerating, efforts to mediate a deal continued. After consultations with the U.S., a delegation from Qatar arrived in Tehran for talks earlier Wednesday, according to an official with knowledge of the visit who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks.
The week’s violence has also included a dangerous near-miss. The exchanges of fire came a day after a U.S. Army attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. official said the helicopter collided with an Iranian drone, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. It was not clear whether the collision was intentional.
A drone boat rescued the helicopter’s two crew. Trump said they were uninjured.
Tensions over what counts as a victory are now colliding with the timetable that politics demands. Wary of high gas prices in the run-up to congressional elections in November, Trump appears to be looking for a quick win. He has also made demands that Iran is unlikely to accept.
The U.S. wants Iran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, but the U.S. view is that the uranium is a short technical step from weapons-grade levels.
Iran is refusing to give up the uranium and demanding relief from sanctions. Iran also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, a demand Trump rejected.
At the same time, Iran has insisted that any deal to end the war must also end fighting between its ally Hezbollah and Israel. Israel, however, has intensified its military campaign against the Lebanon-based militant group.
With each round of strikes, the ceasefire’s promise keeps slipping into the next headline—leaving negotiators trying to sell restraint while both sides keep showing what they can reach, and what they are willing to risk.
United States Iran airstrikes Donald Trump Bahrain Kuwait Strait of Hormuz ceasefire U.N. Security Council highly enriched uranium sanctions M/T Settebello