U.S. military says latest round of strikes on Iran 'completed,' as Tehran threatens to retaliate

The U.S. Military machine says it has completed another labialise of airstrikes against islamic republic of iran, which it said were through at the way of U.S. President Donald Trump and "in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression."

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement on social media about four hours after the strikes began, saying it targeted Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defence sites across Iran.

"U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets fired precision munitions on Iranian targets that posed a threat to U.S. Forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters," the statement said.

Iranian media reported that explosions were heard in southern Iran, in Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Minab.

Iran threatened to retaliate, and another round of missile sirens sounded early Thursday morning in Bahrain, the small island kingdom in the Persian Gulf off Saudi Arabia, one day after Iranian fire in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan — all of which host U.S. Troops.

It was the third time this week that back-and-forth strikes have tested a two-month ceasefire.

The escalating attacks threatened to derail efforts to end the war, with Trump warning that Tehran would "pay the price" for stalled negotiations. They came one day after the U.S. Struck Iran following the crash of an Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz that Trump blamed on the Islamic Republic.

Iran has proved resilient despite weeks of heavy bombing. It is betting that its ability to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial passageway for oil and natural gas — gives it a strong bargaining chip.

In another social media post Wednesday evening, CENTCOM refuted Iran's claims that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, saying commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out. It also said reports that a U.S. Warship was attacked by Iran were false.

Trump wouldn't say whether he planned to follow through on threats he made earlier in the war to attack Iranian bridges and utility plants. He urged Iran to sign a deal to end the war.

"We were really close to a deal but they keep tapping us along," Trump said.

Trump's comments underlined the American leader's whipsaw approach to the war. He suggested on Monday that a deal to end the conflict could be reached in a matter of days.

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Iran's United Nations envoy said the U.S. Should refrain from threats of force if it wants a deal. "Iran has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit to pressure or question," Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

Still, both countries seem to be looking for a way to end the conflict — if they can manage to sell it as a win at home.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears intent on pursuing goals that make compromise harder: the collapse of Iran's theocratic government, the elimination of its nuclear program, and the destruction of the Iranian-allied Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. On Monday, Iran and Israel targeted each other.

Since the U.S. And Israel started the war with attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, the conflict has shaken the global economy, driven up energy prices around the world and made food and other basics more expensive. The international benchmark for crude oil traded above $93 US a barrel on Wednesday, up more than 25 per cent since the start of the war.

The U.S. Military said Wednesday an American aircraft fired "precision munitions" into the engine room of the Palau-flagged vessel M/T Settebello as it attempted to breach the naval blockade with a shipment of Iranian oil. It was the eighth merchant vessel disabled by U.S. Forces in waters off Iran.

India's Foreign Ministry said that three Indian crew members aboard the Settebello were missing after the ship was struck, while 21 other Indian sailors were rescued. Its statement did not mention the U.S. Military or the blockade.

U.S. Launches strikes against Iran following downed army helicopter

In strikes earlier Wednesday, the U.S. Military said its fighter jets targeted "air defence, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites.

Iran said U.S. Strikes hit two water reservoirs in its southern city of Sirik, temporarily cutting off water to thousands of people. Iran's state media published video of what it said was a damaged reservoir, though The Associated Press could not immediately verify the footage.

U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tehran later claimed attacks in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.

Jordan said it shot down five incoming missiles, which Iran said targeted an air base hosting American military aircraft.

Jordan's state-run Petra news agency reported there were no injuries.

Bahrain and Kuwait said they intercepted incoming fire, without elaborating.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the American attacks as a violation of Iranian sovereignty in calls with his counterparts from Turkey and Saudi Arabia "and emphasized the inherent right of self-defence, including reciprocal action," according to a post on his office's Telegram channel.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in televised comments Wednesday that, following the new attacks, Iran would review its stance on negotiations to end the war.

Efforts to mediate a deal continued. Following consultations with the U.S., a delegation from Qatar arrived in Tehran for talks on Wednesday, according to an official with knowledge of the visit who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks.

Iran launches new retaliatory strikes at U.S. Allies in Persian Gulf

The re-escalation of tensions came after a U.S. Army attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with an Iranian drone, according to a U.S. Official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. It wasn't clear whether the collision was intentional.

A drone boat rescued both of the helicopter's crew, and Trump said they were uninjured.

Wary of high gas prices in the run-up to congressional elections in November, seems to be looking for a quick win, he is also making demands that will be tough for Iran to swallow.

The U.S. Wants to see Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. While Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, that uranium is a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Iran is refusing to give up the uranium and demanding relief from sanctions. It also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, something Trump rejected.

As well, Iran has continued to insist that any deal to end the war must also end fighting between its ally Hezbollah and Israel. Instead, Israel has intensified its military campaign against the militant group.

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