US Conducts Third Consecutive Night of Strikes on Iran Amid Trump’s Remarks on Potential Diplomatic Resolution

Published on 14/07/2026 – 5:24 GMT+2

United States forces carried out a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran early Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in hostilities even as President Donald Trump indicated that a diplomatic agreement remains “still possible.”

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

In a statement released via X, US Central Command confirmed that forces “successfully struck military targets across Iran including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas” during a five-hour operation.

Shortly after the military’s announcement, President Trump characterized the operation as “another major attack.”

“We’re hitting them very hard. And it’ll continue, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We’re knocking out all of their offensive capability and we’re controlling the straits. We’re putting the blockade back.”

Iran retaliated by launching strikes against Bahrain and two tankers linked to the UAE within the Strait of Hormuz.

The UAE Ministry of Defence reported early Tuesday that the assault resulted in one fatality and eight injuries among the maritime crew.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for the tanker strikes, asserting that the vessels “ignored repeated warnings.”

The Guard also reported executing missile and drone strikes on Bahrain, following emergency sirens that prompted citizens to seek shelter.

“Several weapons support warehouses, a satellite communications center and the residential building for US forces in Bahrain were targeted,” according to Iranian state television IRIB.

Iran Declares Diplomatic Deal ‘In Crisis’

The recent violence occurs as both Iran and the US compete for influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and natural gas flows during peacetime.

Trump recently suggested that his administration might begin collecting transit tolls in the strait, a reversal of previous stances.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared the US would act as the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait,” proposing a 20% fee on all shipping transit.

“We’re protecting a very rich portion of the world,” Trump stated. “We’re spending money. And so, what we’ve done is, we are going to be reimbursed for protection.”

Despite the heightening tensions, Trump maintained that a resolution to the conflict remains achievable. “Yeah, I think a deal is possible. Sure, I do,” he told reporters. “We had a deal with them two days ago and then they said ‘Oh we can’t make that deal. We have to negotiate it further.'”

On Monday, Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that a previous agreement was intended to “test” Iran, noting that “when you’re dealing with sleazebags, agreements don’t mean much.” He added, “They didn’t honour the test.”

Simultaneously, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the June memorandum of understanding, which had served as the framework for lifting the US blockade, is currently “in crisis.”

Last week, the White House informed Congress that the US has officially resumed military operations against Iran, granting the Pentagon a 60-day window to conduct operations in the region without further congressional authorization.

Source link