The US struck Iran again in two waves on Wednesday, targeting coastal defences, missile sites and command facilities. Meanwhile, Tehran claimed retaliatory attacks on US bases across the region.
United States Central Command said the first operation began at 6 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, or 3 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time, and lasted about 90 minutes.
The military said it struck coastal-defence systems and cruise-missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island near the Strait of Hormuz.
A second wave began about nine hours later, around 3 p.m. EDT, or midnight PKT on July 16. US Central Command said it targeted command centres, air defences, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities.
The strikes included sites in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran. This city hosts the country’s largest port and key naval and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities.
Iranian media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, Konarak, Sirik, Qeshm and Khondab. State broadcaster IRIB said a strike near an Ahvaz hospital forced a temporary evacuation. However, the claim was not independently verified.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it attacked US military targets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. It specifically claimed a missile-and-drone strike on personnel and radar facilities at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
The US military also said it disabled an empty oil tanker heading towards Iran’s Kharg Island after the vessel ignored repeated warnings.
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Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf described the conflict as an “existential war.” He said Tehran’s security depended on maintaining Iranian control arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait carried about one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the conflict. Brent crude closed Wednesday at a one-month high of USD 84.95 per barrel.
President Donald Trump said Iran wanted a settlement but warned that Washington could continue its campaign. Iran said reopening the strait depended on US compliance with a 14-point memorandum signed in June.
