The U.S. military announced that at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Time, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) began the third consecutive night of strikes against targets in Iran, following orders from President Donald Trump as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The military said the strikes were designed “to impose a heavy cost on Iranian forces and weaken their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipments in the Strait of Hormuz.”
1+The Pentagon’s announcement came after Trump sent particularly aggressive messages toward Tehran earlier in the evening during a radio interview. The president said the United States is expected “to hit Iran very hard” tonight, and hinted that the strikes are likely to continue tomorrow as well. When asked whether Israel is involved in the military operations, he chose not to answer directly and said he didn’t want to address the issue.
Trump claimed the memorandum of understanding offered to Iran was meant to test its willingness to reach agreements, but according to him, the regime in Tehran didn’t live up to it. Referring to his relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said the two “get along very well,” but added that there are also disagreements between them, and when they arise he makes sure to clarify his position.
1+The president also addressed the underground nuclear facility at Fordow, considered one of Iran’s most fortified installations. “All our eyes are on it. Fordow could be a possible target for a big, fat, beautiful attack right at the doorstep,” Trump said. Security officials and military analysts estimate this is an especially complex target that, according to assessments, is very difficult to destroy using conventional weapons.
Trump later sought to emphasize his relationship with the Israeli prime minister, saying: “I didn’t throw Bibi under the bus. He’s doing a good job. Without the two of us there would be no Israel. He’s doing a wonderful job.” When asked about other candidates in Israel’s political arena, he replied briefly: “I don’t know them.”
Meanwhile, it was revealed that Trump sent an official message to congressional leaders updating them on the resumption of military activity against Iran. In the letter he wrote that American forces carried out “defensive strikes against targets inside Iran,” a move that reignited the debate in the United States over the president’s authority to order military action without prior congressional approval.
The current escalation fits into a broader move Trump announced in recent days, after declaring that the Strait of Hormuz “will remain open—with Iran or without it,” and even announced that the United States would collect payment of 20% of the value of every commercial cargo passing through the strait in exchange for securing the shipping route. Following the declaration, the U.S. military announced it had begun implementing the naval operation in the area, while the American fleet continues to escort dozens of merchant ships and carry out strikes against Revolutionary Guard targets, including air defense systems, radars, and attack boats.
Iran for its part rejects the American threats. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that Iran was and will remain “the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz,” and mocked Trump’s proposal to collect 20% of cargo values, saying: “20% is too much—we’ll be fair.” Meanwhile, the American strikes continue for the third consecutive night, and tensions in the region continue to rise.