Iran Warns of Wider Military Response as US Strikes Continue Near Strait of Hormuz

Following another night of exchanges between the United States and Iran, an Iranian military spokesperson issued a stern warning on Thursday morning. He declared that if American attacks persist, Iran's response will escalate to additional theaters. The spokesperson emphasized that any US strike on Iranian infrastructure would provoke a "devastating and disproportionate military response," described as a "supreme blow." He further threatened that Iranian forces would completely destroy all Middle Eastern infrastructure that has so far remained intact due to Tehran's restraint. The spokesperson also identified any US intervention in the Strait of Hormuz as a "red line" that Iran will not tolerate under any circumstances.

In the early hours, the US military completed its third wave of strikes within 24 hours targeting Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities. According to US Central Command, these operations aim to degrade Iran's ability to threaten innocent mariners navigating the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have attacked radar systems at the Ali al-Salam base in Kuwait, while Iranian forces reported strikes on US communication systems and fuel tanks in Jordan, with Jordanian forces intercepting eight Iranian missiles.

Amid the escalating conflict, US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform TRUTH that Iran released an American citizen detained since December 2024, who is now safe outside Iran. Trump described this as a goodwill gesture from Iran. Prior to the latest strikes, Trump reiterated his tough stance on Iran, warning them to "behave well" and stating in a Fox Business interview that the Revolutionary Guards want to negotiate but only understand strength. At a defense conference in Pennsylvania, he added that Iran "wants a deal" but also threatened to "finish them off" if no agreement is reached.

Reports from the Wall Street Journal citing White House sources indicate that Trump is considering expanding the campaign against Iran, including increasing airstrikes, deploying ground forces to seize Iranian islands near the Strait of Hormuz, and possibly bombing the nuclear site known as "Mount Machoosh." This current wave of attacks follows four consecutive nights of US-Iranian clashes, with the US Central Command announcing another strike wave yesterday afternoon. Iranian news agency Mehr reported that US forces targeted the Bushehr nuclear power plant area in southern Iran during these operations.