US bombs Iran again; Tehran closes Strait of Hormuz and attacks allied bases

Diplomatic impasse

A fragile ceasefire in place since April 8 had paused over five weeks of mutual bombardment, but tensions reignited this week. US President Donald Trump accused Tehran of stalling in negotiations to end the conflict, telling reporters that Iran was “just leading us on, they’re messing with us.” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth echoed the frustration, stating: “If we have to negotiate with bombs, we’ll negotiate with bombs, and we’re very good at that.” Iran rejected any direct talks, with state media later denying Trump’s claim that Iranian officials had asked him to stop the attacks.

They were really on the verge of concluding a deal, but they keep leading us on, they’re messing with us.

If we have to negotiate with bombs, we’ll negotiate with bombs, and we’re very good at that.

Night of strikes

CENTCOM confirmed it had completed airstrikes on Wednesday night, June 10, targeting “Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across the country.” Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets fired precision munitions. Explosions were reported in several southern Iranian locations, including Sirik, Minab, Bandar Abbas, and on Qeshm Island, as well as near the port cities of Asaluyeh and Kangan. Air defense activity was also noted in western Tehran. These strikes came just one night after a previous US operation against Iranian radar and air defense installations near the Strait, marking the first major hostilities since the April ceasefire.

Iranian reprisals and Hormuz closure

Within hours, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz “to all types of vessels, including oil tankers and merchant ships,” citing insecurity in the region due to the American attacks. The Iranian navy specifically warned that any vessel attempting to cross would be targeted, and two ships were reportedly hit while trying to transit the strait. Iran also claimed responsibility for drone or missile strikes on US‑linked sites: the Ali al‑Salem and Ahmad al‑Jaber bases in Kuwait, the Sheikh Isa air base in Bahrain (identified by some sources as the US Fifth Fleet headquarters), and a facility in Jordan. The Iranian military posted that “any ship that tries to cross the strategic passage … will be attacked.”

Due to the insecurity in the region, the Strait of Hormuz is declared closed to any type of vessel traffic, including oil tankers and merchant ships, and any type of traffic will be affected.

US denial and ongoing transit

Despite the Iranian declaration, the US military pushed back. CENTCOM stated on social media that “commercial vessels continue to transit the strait tonight,” denying claims that the waterway had been blocked. No damage to energy infrastructure in Asaluyeh was confirmed, and the US gave no immediate casualty figures from its own strikes. The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one‑fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade, making any prolonged disruption a critical global energy concern.

Escalation dynamics

The latest blows deepen a conflict that had only tentatively paused two months ago. The back‑to‑back exchanges — Tuesday night’s radar‑focused strikes, then Wednesday’s broader bombardment — signal that both sides are willing to escalate quickly. With diplomacy at a standstill and Hegseth openly framing the airstrikes as a negotiating tool, the risk of a wider Persian Gulf war remains high. Analysts point to the combination of military pressure, Iranian counter‑strikes on US regional infrastructure, and the symbolic move to close Hormuz as a deliberate step toward coercive brinkmanship on both sides.