The U.S. military launched additional strikes against Iran on Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump declared the fragile ceasefire with Iran “over” following Tehran’s attacks on three commercial ships in the strategic waterway.
“At the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
At the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 8, 2026
CENTCOM did not immediately disclose the targets, saying only that the operation was intended to hold Iran accountable for what it called “unjustified aggression” against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency later reported about 10 explosions in the southeastern cities of Chabahar and Konarak, adding that parts of Chabahar experienced power outages.
Around 10 explosions were reported in Chabahar and Konarak a short while ago, with partial power cuts now affecting Chabahar. Authorities are looking into the details.
— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) July 8, 2026
Separately, state broadcaster IRIB reported explosions in the southern cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik.
🚨 BREAKING
Explosions heard in Bandar Abbas and Sirik pic.twitter.com/ZfvrQE2hY6— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) July 8, 2026
The latest strikes came hours after U.S. forces struck more than 80 Iranian targets, including air defense systems, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats near the Strait of Hormuz, in retaliation for Iran’s attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the waterway.
Iran retaliated against the recent U.S. strikes by targeting Bahrain and Kuwait, according to Iran-linked media.
An IRGC-linked Telegram channel reported hearing explosions in Kuwait and said US military bases in Bahrain had come “under attack.”
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) July 9, 2026
Sources have released footage showing US defense systems in Bahrain attempting to intercept Iranian missiles.
Could US defense missiles strike residential areas in Bahrain #again tonight? pic.twitter.com/DZVAjQJOd1
— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) July 9, 2026
The latest escalation came weeks after Iran and the U.S. agreed to halt military operations and begin negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement.
Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping had effectively ended the ceasefire. “To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore; they’re scum,” Trump said.
Trump says the ceasefire between U.S. and Iran is over.
“To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore; they’re scum”, the U.S. president says.
Live updates: https://t.co/l9KwsXPz0p pic.twitter.com/mqfE5qKOHe
— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 8, 2026
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them,” Trump said, though he added that his administration would allow negotiations to continue if officials believed talks remained worthwhile.
It remained unclear whether Iran was willing to continue negotiations, but its officials signaled they would not back down from U.S. pressure.
“The era of bullying and extortion is over,” Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X. “It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.”
Major MOU Violations by the US:
Violating Iranian adjustments in the Strait
Persistent threats of further strikes
Reinstating oil sanctions
Attacks on southern Iran
Continued Zionist aggression on🇱🇧
The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) July 8, 2026
