US and Iran Exchange Warnings as Conflict Enters Seventh Month
The conflict between Iran and the United States has intensified after six months of war. Both nations exchanged strong warnings on Wednesday. This happened after some of the heaviest fighting in weeks across the Middle East.
President Donald Trump said US forces launched a significant attack on Iranian targets. He also said US troops are ready for further attacks at any time.
Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, warned that Iran has a new plan in the war. Mr. Rezaei wrote on X that Iran’s new strategy will weaken its opponents. This strategy involves actions on the battlefield, in diplomacy, and against economic blockades.
Washington has promised to increase economic pressure on Iran. It threatened allies of Iran with new sanctions. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said a plan for more sanctions will put on the strongest possible pressure.
Iran attacked US military bases in several countries. These include Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq’s Kurdistan region. This happened after US forces bombed many sites across Iran on Tuesday.
Iran reacted with anger after one US attack. The Iranian Red Crescent reported that a US strike hit a wedding in Sirik, southern Iran. Four people died, including a child. More than 50 people were hurt.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the attack a war crime. He said the bombing showed America’s struggle to hide its failures. US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins said the US military never targets civilians. He added that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards do.
Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf strongly criticized Washington for the wedding attack. He said that if a country acts cruelly, it is cruel.
The latest round of fighting began when the United States hit Iranian targets on Sunday. This was the first known US strike in several weeks. Iran’s forces then attacked US troops in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
Projectiles also struck two oil tankers. A Saudi shipping company said two Filipino sailors died in one of these attacks. President Trump said the US strikes were in response to Iran trying to plant sea mines. He also mentioned Iran firing missiles at a base in Jordan.
Many Iranians expressed sadness about the return to fighting. Hossein Moazami, a 50-year-old self-employed man, called the attacks very worrying. He hoped both sides would talk again. He said only the Iranian people suffer from this war.
A video from an Iranian government account showed damage at the wedding site in Sirik. Ali Mallahi, the father of the bride, confirmed the building was hit. He said he was thankful fewer people were hurt.
The war started on February 28. It began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran. These attacks killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A short ceasefire ended after attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. One-fifth of the world’s oil supplies used to flow through this strait.
Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said his country is ready to respond with much power. This would happen if Iran attacks Israel during the Jewish high holiday season. The holidays begin in mid-September. Mr. Katz noted that Iran is currently striking in other parts of the region.
