US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that American forces would launch new, intensified strikes on Iran, declaring that Washington’s earlier ceasefire agreement with Tehran was now “over.” Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said the US would “hit ’em hard tonight,” accusing Iran of repeatedly violating the terms of the memorandum that had paused hostilities.
Trump also threatened to seize Kharg Island, a strategically vital Iranian territory that hosts major oil export infrastructure. He claimed Iran’s actions had left the US with “no choice” but to escalate military pressure.
The comments came shortly before Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he reiterated that Iran “violates the agreement every day.” His remarks followed a wave of US military operations across the region.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces recently struck more than 80 Iranian targets, including air‑defence systems, coastal radar sites, and 60 small IRGC boats believed to be involved in attacks on commercial shipping. CENTCOM said the strikes were aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to threaten vessels moving through a key global trade corridor.
The escalation prompted swift retaliation from Tehran. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed they had launched attacks on dozens of US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, with explosions reported in parts of Bahrain, according to AFP journalists on the ground.
NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte backed the US operation, calling the strikes “absolutely necessary” amid rising regional instability. The situation has heightened fears of a broader conflict across the Gulf, where shipping routes and energy supplies remain vulnerable.