A second night of strikes

The United States and Iran exchanged a fresh wave of attacks overnight into Thursday, marking the second consecutive night of direct military action and further straining a ceasefire that has been in place since April. US Central Command said its forces began launching what it called "self-defence strikes" at 10:15 p.m. Wednesday (21:15 GMT) against multiple targets across Iran. The operation, which Centcom later said was complete about four hours after it began, targeted military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites.

President Donald Trump told Fox News reporter Trey Yingst that the US strikes would stop shortly but warned he would resume heavy bombing if Iran's leaders did not immediately sign an agreement with the United States. In a separate Fox News interview, Trump said the US had struck Iran with 49 Tomahawk cruise missiles, with some targets located roughly 60 kilometers from Tehran. Iranian state media reported explosions in several cities, including Karaj near the capital, as well as Sirik, Kargan, Bandar Abbas, and Minab along the southern coast.

“When we have to negotiate with bombs, we negotiate with bombs. And we are very good at it.”

Iran's retaliation across the Gulf

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched counter-attacks on 18 US military targets, including the Ali Al Salem and Ahmad al-Jaber air bases in Kuwait, the Shaikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, and the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The IRGC said its aerospace and naval forces conducted two waves of strikes, targeting Patriot air defense systems, communications, and radar facilities. Iranian state media also reported a heavy missile attack against the Muwaffaq Salti air base (al-Azraq) in Jordan for a second consecutive night, firing 12 ballistic missiles at the facility.

Kuwait's army said its air defenses were engaging hostile aerial targets, and the country's Civil Aviation Authority closed its airspace for several hours, diverting flights to alternative airports. In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry said an 11-year-old girl was injured and cars and homes were damaged by falling debris from interceptions targeting the Iranian attack. Jordan did not officially acknowledge the strike, though the US Embassy in Amman issued a warning about it.

Conflicting claims over the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's top joint military command, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced early Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to all vessels effective immediately, warning that any ship attempting passage would be fired upon. Iranian media reported that two US ships were targeted near the waterway. US Central Command denied both claims, stating that no US warships had been struck and that commercial ships continued to transit in and out of the strait despite Iran's threats.

President Trump, speaking in the Oval Office, disclosed what he described as a covert operation in which more than 200 tankers had moved millions of barrels of crude oil through the strait undetected by Iran, running without lights and secured by the US Navy. The strait, which normally carries roughly a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, has been largely closed for months due to Iran's blockade, keeping oil prices elevated.

Oil markets and the civilian toll

Brent crude futures rose $2.30, or 2.47 percent, to $95.40 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate climbed $2.60, or 2.89 percent, to $92.63. Prices had gained nearly $3 following Trump's threat of escalation and extended gains in early Asian trade on Thursday. US crude inventories fell by 7.2 million barrels to 426.5 million barrels in the week ended June 5, according to the Energy Information Administration, a larger draw than the 4 million barrels analysts had expected. Since the war began on February 28, US crude inventories, including strategic reserves, have fallen by 79 million barrels as the world's largest producer stepped in to fill supply gaps.

In a separate incident, Indian official Sarbananda Sonowal announced that three Indian mariners were killed aboard the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello, which the US military's Central Command said had violated the blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran. US forces fired into the ship's engine room to stop it. Two bodies were recovered, while the location of the third was unclear.

“Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after two bodies were recovered.”

Diplomacy at an impasse

The escalation began earlier in the week with the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered a series of tit-for-tat attacks. The first exchanges occurred between Iran and Israel on Sunday into Monday, followed by two rounds of fire between the US and Tehran. Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Iran's unwillingness to meet his terms for an agreement that would extend the April ceasefire by 60 days, open the strait, and address Iran's nuclear program.

On Tuesday, Trump said the two countries were in "the final throes" of a deal that could be signed within two or three days. Iranian state media quoted a senior official dismissing Trump's claim of direct contact with Tehran's leadership as a "false claim" serving as a cover to avoid war. Both countries appear to be seeking an exit from the conflict, though each must frame any agreement as a victory at home.