The United States has launched its third consecutive day of military strikes against Iran, with President Donald Trump announcing that the nation will face even more severe attacks tonight and tomorrow. Speaking from the White House, Trump stated the U.S. would execute a "very large attack" against Iran, while the U.S. Central Command confirmed it began nighttime airstrikes two hours earlier in direct response to the president's directive [1][3]. The Pentagon said these strikes aim to inflict massive damage on Iran's military and degrade its ability to attack shipping in the critical Strait of Hormuz [1].
Iranian state media reported ongoing missile attacks in southern Iran, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it intercepted a U.S. drone near Bandar Abbas [1]. Trump dismissed the idea of a ceasefire agreement, calling any prior understanding "just a test" with little significance, and vowed continued pressure on the Iranian regime [1]. The operation, described by Trump as a "massive and ongoing effort," is explicitly aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and pushing for regime change in Tehran [1][5].
In a unilateral move, Trump also announced the reinstatement of a U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that the U.S. would act as the "guardian" of the waterway [9]. He stated that in exchange for providing safety and security, the U.S. would charge other nations a toll equal to 20% of the value of their cargo passing through the strait [9]. Trump emphasized, "We will continue to dominate the Strait of Hormuz… and we will get a lot of money for it" [9].
The escalating conflict has already disrupted oil flows through the Hormuz Strait, triggering concerns of a global energy crisis [4]. While the U.S. and Israel have not provided public evidence that Iran is imminent to build a nuclear bomb, Trump argues the strikes are necessary to eliminate an "imminent threat" to American security [2][3]. Humanitarian groups report over 200 deaths and 700 injuries in Iran so far
