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12th Night of Strikes
The U.S. military launched a 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran on Wednesday, with U.S. Central Command saying the attacks were designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters.”
“intended to "further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters"”
The strikes came as President Donald Trump threatened that the United States would “bomb and destroy” an Iranian bridge or power plant for every new attack by Iran on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM also said the Strait of Hormuz “remains open for transit” despite “threats and attacks” by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while the Pentagon insisted the waterway is still open.
In parallel, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebel group claimed Wednesday it attacked two oil tankers in the Red Sea, following through on a threat that could snarl the Bab al-Mandab strait.
The escalation unfolded alongside a U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation deal signed Wednesday by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman, described as a “123 agreement.”
Iran’s “Eye for an Eye”
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would respond in kind to any attack on its infrastructure, saying, “Our defence doctrine is clear: eye for an eye.”
Araghchi added that “Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response,” as Iranian state media also quoted the military saying U.S. threats “will have no result other than the expansion of the war.”
Al Jazeera reported that Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf delivered a message on X saying, “In a region where we do not sell oil, no one will sell oil.”
Ghalibaf also warned that “If our security is not ensured, no infrastructure will be safe,” linking the Strait of Hormuz to whether American forces remain in the region.
In response to Trump’s threats, the Guardian reported that the Houthis said they carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers identified as ENCELA and LAYLIA, and that Saudi authorities would respond “firmly.”
Diplomacy, Infrastructure, Fallout
The BBC reported that Trump threatened to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant “whether it be by missile, rocket, drone, or any other device or weapon,” after the U.S. launched strikes for the 11th consecutive night.
“The U.S. would destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant any time its forces attack a ship”
The BBC also said Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters the U.S. would “defend” ships going through the straits getting “blown up,” while adding that U.S. officials were “open to diplomacy” but Iran did not seem serious about talks.
Al Jazeera said Iran’s Ministry of Health reported that U.S. attacks since late last month have killed 53 people, including three children, and injured 590 others.
Al Jazeera further reported that the escalating attacks have led both sides to say they have abandoned the interim peace deal they signed last month, at least for now, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a central point of contention.
In a separate diplomatic move, Fox News reported that the United Kingdom temporarily withdrew its diplomatic staff from Iran due to the deteriorating security situation, while the embassy continues to operate remotely.