The US Central Command announced that the American military has started additional attacks on targets in Iran under the orders of Donald Trump. According to the statement, the attacks were carried out at 17:15 local time and were conducted within the scope of legitimate self-defense.
US officials say the military operation aims to force Tehran into a peace agreement. Trump accused Iran of stalling in negotiations and made a statement that escalated tensions.
In an Oval Office statement, Trump said, "We will hit them very hard." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also told reporters at the CENTCOM headquarters in Florida that they want to deliver a strong blow to Iran.
Hegseth argued that the attacks were not intended to escalate the war but to create a basis for an agreement. With the words, "If negotiation is necessary, we negotiate with bombs," he clearly outlined Washington's pressure policy.
According to information reported by Axios, all targets are located in southern Iran. These targets include air defense systems, radar stations, and unmanned aerial vehicle control points.
The Iranian side announced that there will be a strong response to the attacks. Tasnim news agency, citing a military source, reported that Tehran is preparing a "fierce retaliation."
The Iranian President had previously stated that Trump's threats are not a show of strength but a sign of "desperation." This statement showed that tensions between the two countries have deepened further with the latest military moves.
The conflict zone was also active the previous night. The US struck radar and air defense elements in Iran, after which Iran launched several missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles toward American bases in the region.
It was also reported that Trump met with his national security team on Wednesday to discuss military options in Iran. One of these options was described as a short but large-scale operation intended to force Tehran to change its negotiation stance.
