In brief
The United States launched its 11th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, targeting military infrastructure, after Tehran warned against attacks on its nuclear facilities. Trump announced a potential strike on a suspected underground enrichment site, while Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened to block Saudi ports. Oil prices surged and the Iranian‑US ceasefire collapsed, sparking further regional instability.
US renews strikes on Iran as Trump threatens to attack underground nuclear site
The US launched 11 consecutive nights of air strikes on Iran, targeting military operations centres, aircraft hangars, and drone storage facilities. Central Command said the attacks aim to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s state media reported fire alarms in Tehran and explosions in cities such as Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak and Bushehr – home to the country’s only nuclear power plant. Tehran warned the US of retaliatory strikes after President Donald Trump publicly threatened a strike on a hidden enrichment site known as “Pickaxe Mountain”.
Mr Trump told reporters that “we’ll be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily” – a statement that Iran’s Khatam Al‑Anbiya military command described as an expansion of war, vowing retaliation against American interests. He also threatened action against the Houthi rebels in Yemen if they followed through on a blockade of Saudi ports.
The region’s maritime corridor has become increasingly volatile. Houthi forces have reportedly closed the Bab‑al‑Mandab Strait, forcing tanker owners to reroute through the Suez Canal. The price of oil climbed above $94 per barrel as markets reacted to the escalating tensions.
A ceasefire signed in June between the US and Iran collapsed after Iranian attacks on 30 merchant vessels in the Hormuz waterway and subsequent US retaliatory strikes. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Washington remains willing to negotiate, but expressed doubts over Iran’s sincerity.
With the US military targeting more than 30 commercial vessels in the last three months, maritime safety remains a concern. Meanwhile, the cost of the conflict is rising, with Pentagon officials citing an additional $37.5 billion in war‑related expenses last month.
