Hours after the US struck more than 80 targets across Iran, including air defence systems, coastal radar facilities, command-and-control centres and around 60 IRGC vessels, President Donald Trump warned that Washington will launch more strikes on Wednesday night.
Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Turkey before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump signalled further military action.
"I'll give a little warning: We're going to hit them hard tonight," Trump said.
The US President did not stop there.
As questions mounted over whether the US-Iran ceasefire had effectively collapsed, he claimed US forces had "knocked out 28 boats" during overnight strikes and said they would "probably" destroy more Iranian vessels if necessary.
Trump also floated the possibility of expanding the campaign beyond military assets, saying Washington could target Iran's electricity grid and water facilities, though he added he hoped such action would not be necessary.
In one of his most striking remarks, Trump said the US "may take over" Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub. He also said Washington could restore a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and said NATO countries would deploy minesweepers to secure the strategically vital waterway.
The US military had launched new strikes on Iranian air defence systems, coastal radar facilities, command-and-control centres and around 60 vessels belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operating near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes were carried out in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial oil tankers in the strategic waterway.
Earlier in the day, Trump said that the memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed only three weeks ago to halt hostilities between Washington and Tehran, had effectively collapsed.
"For me, the MoU is over. I don't want to deal with them anymore," he said when asked about the future of the agreement.
Despite declaring the agreement effectively dead, Trump indicated that negotiators could continue talking, although he dismissed diplomacy as largely pointless.
"I will speak to our negotiators... As far as I am concerned, it is just a waste of time dealing with them. They are liars," he said.
The US President also launched a fierce attack on Iran's leadership.
"They are scum. They are sick people. They are vicious, violent people. If they had a nuclear weapon they'd use it," Trump said.
In response, Iran accused Washington of violating the fragile ceasefire understanding through both military and economic actions. In a statement shared by the Embassy of Iran in India on X, Iran's Foreign Ministry said the US strikes on monitoring and surveillance centres along the country's southern coast had breached commitments made under the interim agreement.
Tehran also criticised the US Treasury's decision to revoke a 60-day licence that had allowed Iran to sell oil on international markets using US dollars, arguing that Washington had failed to honour its obligations under the ceasefire arrangement.
The ministry said the combination of military action and economic pressure amounted to a violation of understandings governing navigation and security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran also blamed continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon for undermining major elements of the ceasefire framework, saying the latest escalation rested with Washington and Israel.
Washington has maintained that the strikes were necessary after Iran targeted three commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said the operation was intended to reduce Iran's ability to threaten international shipping through one of the world's busiest energy routes.
"Centcom forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed," the command said.
Iranian state media reported multiple explosions in Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Qeshm Island after the strikes. Trump later shared a video on social media that was reported to show explosions in Bandar Abbas.
Iran also issued a warning to neighbouring countries bordering the Persian Gulf, urging them not to allow the US or its allies to use their territory or military facilities for operations against Iran.
The Foreign Ministry said any country assisting attacks on Iran would be regarded as complicit in the aggression.
It also reaffirmed Tehran's right to defend its sovereignty under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and warned that its armed forces "will not hesitate to target both the source and the perpetrators of any act of aggression."
