The US military carried out fresh strikes in Iran on Wednesday, shooting down four Iranian drones and targeting a control centre in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, even as Washington and Tehran continued negotiations aimed at ending their three-month conflict.
Iran activated its air defence systems after explosions were reported east of the city. The latest escalation also witnessed an exchange of fire in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran’s IRGC navy allegedly fired on a US tanker, prompting retaliatory strikes by the US near Bandar Abbas.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions on Iran’s newly formed agency tasked with overseeing shipping through the strategic waterway, accusing it of charging tolls of up to $2 million per vessel.
The developments come after Trump, during a cabinet meeting, said that “they want very much to make a deal,” but added, “So far, they haven't gotten there. We're not satisfied with it, but we will be — either that or we'll have to just finish the job.”
Read more: Iran targets US airbase after attack near Bandar Abbas, warns ‘aggressor’ of harsher response
Here are key developments:
Strikes in Bandar Abbas
Three explosions were heard near midnight east of the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, with Iran’s air defence systems remaining active in the area for several minutes, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported. The exact cause of the blasts was not immediately known.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency claimed that the IRGC navy opened fire on a US tanker attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after allegedly switching off its radar system. According to the report, the US retaliated by firing at areas around Bandar Abbas.
The US military later confirmed that it had shot down four Iranian "one-way attack drones" that posed a threat in the Strait of Hormuz region. A US official told AFP that American forces also struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was preparing to launch a fifth drone.
Previously, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced fresh sanctions targeting Iran's newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which is trying to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and charging tolls that could reach as high as $2 million per vessel.
Read more: US carries out new strikes in Iran against military site, official says
Iran responds to attacks
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday they targeted a U.S. airbase at 0450 local time after what they described as an early morning U.S. attack near Bandar Abbas airport, Tasnim news agency reported.
The IRGC did not say where the base is.
They warned that any repeat of what they called aggression would draw a "more decisive" response and said responsibility for the consequences lay with the "aggressor".
Kuwait intercepts missiles and drones
Kuwait’s military said air raid sirens were sounded between 2:30 am and 3:00 am local time, as air defence systems intercepted incoming ballistic missiles and drones.
The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces stated that the explosions heard across parts of the country were caused by air defence systems engaging hostile targets. Authorities urged residents to follow safety instructions and remain indoors, away from windows.
No casualties or significant damage were immediately reported. Operations at Kuwait International Airport were briefly suspended before flights resumed. Kuwait hosts major US and allied military forces, making it a potential target amid the ongoing conflict.
Israel issues evacuation warning in Lebanon
Israel’s military issued an evacuation warning to residents of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, saying it planned to carry out operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah in the area.
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