US Hits Iran After Trump's Warning

The US started attacking Iran just hours after President Donald Trump warned that the country would be hit “hard” in response to an attack on a US base in Jordan.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) shared on X that it completed “heavy waves of strikes” at midnight. They described the attacks as strong and a “response to yesterday’s attempted Iranian attacks on US forces in the Middle East.”

The strikes focused on Iranian targets like “military command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defence sites, and maritime capabilities.”

Al Jazeera reports that loud explosions were heard in many cities in Southern Iran. This includes Bushehr province, where Iran's nuclear power plant is located, Qeshm Island, and the port city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province.

At least two people have been said to be injured due to the strikes.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported on Trump’s threat, ending five days of relative calm between the two nations. He had suddenly stopped a 13-day bombing campaign last Friday. In turn, Tehran also paused its retaliatory strikes that were aimed at US interests in the Gulf.

“We’re going to be hitting them very hard because it’s our turn to hit them. They know it’s coming,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

This paper reported that Iran attacked on Tuesday while Trump was meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Netanyahu has been advocating for war against Iran.

Iran's strikes also followed US and Saudi Arabia's joint attacks on Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). This move increased tensions in this new conflict.

CENTCOM viewed the attack as revenge for the assaults by Iraqi militias on American troops and Saudi energy facilities last week. The attack resulted in the deaths of 20 members of the PMF, which is an Iraqi armed group linked to Iran.

CENTCOM noted that they intercepted several ballistic missiles during the “attempted surprise attack.” They reported five interceptions over Jordan.

The IRGC confirmed the attack, stating that its air force targeted a US airbase and Central Command centre in Jordan “with several ballistic missiles.”

In another development, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the US will not let Iran disrupt global trade.

He described the Iranian government as “desperate for cash” as its economy worsens and inflation rises to triple digits.

His comments on X came after his office announced new sanctions against Iran.

The Treasury Department revealed that it imposed sanctions on two companies that it claims are key to the IRGC-backed plan that forces commercial vessels to buy mandatory maritime insurance to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.