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- Centcom said the operation aimed to further degrade Iranian military capabilities and included aircraft, drones and naval assets.
- Iranian state media said civilian infrastructure was hit, and the BBC verified damage to a bridge west of Bandar Abbas.
- Iran said it attacked US military infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain after accusing Washington of striking multiple Iranian sites.
- The White House said President Trump remained open to negotiations, while Strait of Hormuz disruptions raised global energy concerns.
The United States launched a new wave of strikes on Iran for the sixth consecutive night, targeting what it described as Iranian military infrastructure as fighting over the Strait of Hormuz intensified.
US Central Command (Centcom) said the operation was intended to “further degrade Iranian military capabilities”. It added that US forces had also boarded a vessel as part of a renewed blockade of Iranian ports.
According to Centcom, aircraft, drones and naval assets struck dozens of targets, including coastal surveillance and air defence sites, military logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities.
Iran alleges civilian infrastructure was hit
Iranian state media claimed the strikes also hit civilian infrastructure, including bridges, a railway station and an airport.
The BBC independently verified damage to one bridge west of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province. The White House and Centcom had not commented on the allegation at the time of reporting.
Missiles also reportedly struck areas near Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas and Bushehr, home to Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump warned that bridges and power plants could become targets if Iran refused to return to negotiations.
Iran responds with regional attacks
Iran said it had launched attacks against US military infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain after accusing Washington of striking Iranshahr Airport, Bandar Khamir railway station and several bridges in Bandar Abbas.
State news agency IRNA reported that at least seven people were killed in the latest strikes.
Centcom also said US Marines boarded an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman as part of the renewed blockade of Iranian ports and redirected three commercial vessels attempting to bypass it.
The US military said that during a previous blockade between April and June it had disabled nine ships and redirected more than 140 commercial vessels.
Trump keeps door open to diplomacy
Despite the escalation, the White House said President Trump remained willing to negotiate with Tehran.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran had indicated it still wanted an agreement with Washington but stressed the US would respond to any attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials insisted the country’s security depended on maintaining its position in the strategic waterway and said there was “no reason” to accept any agreement that did not serve Iran’s interests.
Energy concerns grow
The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted regional oil exports and raised concerns over global energy supplies.
International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that prolonged disruption could affect energy markets if the situation failed to improve in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, confusion remained over the status of US detainee Dena Karari after President Trump praised Iran for her reported release. Iran’s judiciary later denied that any American prisoner had been released or exchanged.
Also read: Iran targets military bases as US launches wave of strikes
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