Trump launches new airstrikes on Iran as deal stalls

Jared Szuba

Jun 10, 2026

In this US Navy released handout, an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, prepares to take off from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 1, 2026 at Sea. — In this US Navy released handout, an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, prepares to take off from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 1, 2026, at Sea. — US Navy via Getty Images

WASHINGTON — The US Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps launched airstrikes in Iran on Wednesday evening as the Trump administration seeks to ramp up pressure on the country's leaders to come to the negotiating table and surrender what remains of their nuclear program.

"US Central Command forces began launching additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET [12:45 a.m. in Tehran] against multiple targets in Iran," CENTCOM said in a statement, adding the strikes were "in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression."

Explosions were reported in the southern city of Minab, as well as in Bandar Abbas and Jask, along the Strait of Hormuz.

At 9:00 p.m. ET, CENTCOM released a statement staying it had completed the round of strikes targeting "Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across Iran."

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said early Thursday that it had carried out retaliatory strikes against the US targets at the Ali Al-Salem and Ahmad Al-Jaber air bases in Kuwait, and the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. In a statement carried by state media, the IRGC said that "during two waves of operations," it had targeted "18 important" US military sites.

The IRGC said the attacks were a response to recent US strikes on military and security facilities in Iran and claimed the targets had been successfully hit. The assertions could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate comment from US, Kuwaiti or Bahraini authorities.

Hours before the predawn strikes, Trump on Wednesday morning warned that Iran's leaders had "taken too long" to engage in diplomacy with Washington.

The US strikes were designed to "enhance our diplomatic position" against Iran, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that evening after he met with the Pentagon's top Middle East commander, Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, at Central Command headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. "They're choosing to play games," Hegseth said.

This developing story has been updated.