Second Night of U.S. Strikes in Iran as Tehran Threatens Hormuz Closure

The U.S. military, through Central Command, struck multiple targets in Iran overnight, for the second night of attacks across the country. According to Iranian reports, air defense systems were activated in Fars Province, on Qeshm Island and in Tehran, and explosions were reported on Kish Island, on Qeshm Island and in Sirik, near the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command issued an official statement saying that “United States Central Command forces completed additional self-defense strikes against various targets in Iran on June 10, at the direction of the commander in chief.” The statement said the American forces “conducted strikes against Iran’s military surveillance capabilities, communications systems and air defense sites across Iran.” According to the report, assets from the U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy fired precision munitions at Iranian targets that posed a threat to American forces and international commercial vessels. The U.S. military stressed that the strikes were carried out in response to “continued, unprovoked aggression from Iran,” adding that “U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready to act.”

In response to the American attack, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a dramatic statement saying, “From this moment, due to the insecurity in the area, the Strait of Hormuz is closed to the movement of all types of vessels, including oil tankers and merchant ships. Any vessel that attempts to pass will be attacked.” However, U.S. Central Command quickly denied the claim, writing on X that traffic through the strait continued as normal and there had been no change in vessel passage.

President Donald Trump stressed in an interview with Fox News that Israel was not involved in the strikes. “The strikes will stop soon, but we may resume them later,” he added. The attack comes amid severe tensions in the Middle East and after the United States and Iran exchanged military blows in recent days. Just days earlier, a U.S. Apache attack helicopter was downed in the Strait of Hormuz, and the American military responded with strikes against Iranian air defense arrays.

Trump’s White House meeting included Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined by video from U.S. Central Command headquarters in Florida. According to American sources, one option discussed in the meeting was a large-scale but short-lived military operation intended to increase pressure on Tehran to change its position in the negotiations. During the meeting, the defense secretary said, “We will hit Iran hard tonight. We will strike the country’s key sites.”