The United States began carrying out strikes against multiple targets in Iran for the second day in a row, US Central Command said, after President Donald Trump promised to resume attacks on the country.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said the US would bomb “key facilities” in Iran. Earlier on Wednesday, Washington and Tehran exchanged attacks after Iran shot down a US Apache helicopter.
Here’s what we know about the attacks:
- US Central Command framed the latest attacks as a response to “Iran’s continued unwarranted aggression.” Iranian official media reported attacks in locations near Minab and Sirik, regions in southern Iran close to the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Hegseth avoided answering whether attacking civilian infrastructure would constitute a war crime.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said US threats to target critical infrastructure, including transportation, electricity and water sectors, are a sign of weakness rather than strength. Iranian military officials have also expressed little concern about Trump’s latest comments.
- Trump today also expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations to reach a peace agreement. He stated that Iran “will pay the price” for having “taken too long to negotiate a deal” and that all Iran needs to do is “start signing a paper.”
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A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran for talks on diplomatic efforts related to the conflict with the United States, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. According to a diplomatic source, negotiators were still in the country when the US launched new attacks.
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US President Donald Trump announced that, last month, he ordered the American Armed Forces to carry out a “secret mission” to support oil tankers and commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. He said more than 200 commercial vessels passed through the waterway during that period.
- Tensions between Washington and Tehran have increased market instability. Brent oil rose 1.8% on Wednesday (10), reaching US$91.10 a barrel. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are down 4.5% and 7.1%, respectively, since hitting record highs on June 2. The Dow Jones is down about 3.2% since its last record high on June 4.
- Meanwhile, the UN human rights chief will send investigators to “collect evidence” about “alleged rights violations” in Lebanon, more than three months after the conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also urged the people of Lebanon to “take control of their future” and build a country free from Hezbollah’s influence, in a recorded message.
