US Strikes Iran for Sixth Consecutive Night as Strait of Hormuz Remains Blocked

US Escalates Military Campaign Against Iran

The United States has launched a new wave of strikes against Iran for a sixth consecutive night, according to US Central Command (Centcom). The military command stated on Thursday that the operations were designed to "further degrade Iranian military capabilities" as both nations continue to battle for control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media reported that US missiles struck near the Gulf island of Qeshm, close to the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in the coastal cities of Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. Bushehr is the site of a nuclear power plant, though the source did not specify whether the facility itself was targeted.

The latest strikes follow an overnight exchange of attacks between the two sides, further straining a preliminary agreement that had been intended to end the conflict.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed Amid Escalating Conflict

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane off Iran's coast, has remained shut after Tehran effectively blocked it in response to earlier US-Israeli strikes. The closure of the waterway has significant implications for global oil shipping and trade.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran claimed it had struck US military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The US, in turn, reported conducting a six-hour wave of strikes targeting multiple locations within the strait.

Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, told state media that Tehran had "no reason" to abide by any agreement that did not serve the country's interests. He emphasized that Iran's national security depended on maintaining what he described as "Iranian arrangements" in the Strait of Hormuz.

White House Signals Openness to Diplomacy

Despite the escalating violence, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that President Donald Trump remained open to diplomatic engagement with Iran.

"The president will hold them accountable when they turn their back on the words that they state to the United States. But he is always open to diplomacy at the very same time," Leavitt told reporters.

She indicated that Iran had expressed a continued desire to reach a deal with the United States, adding: "We're talking to them, but again, the president is not going to allow them to fire on ships in the strait without paying a consequence for that."

The remarks came after Trump warned Iran that it had "better behave" or face additional military action if it did not return to negotiations.

Confusion Over Reported Prisoner Release

In a separate development, Trump on Wednesday praised Iran for freeing Dena Karari, a US detainee he said had been "wrongfully detained" in December 2024. "The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Karari's attorney, Jared Genser, said she was on her way back to the United States. However, Iran's judiciary stated on Thursday that no US prisoner had been released or exchanged from its prisons, according to Iranian state media reports.

The contradictory accounts create further uncertainty amid an already volatile situation, as both nations navigate military confrontation, diplomatic overtures, and conflicting narratives on the ground.

As the conflict enters its seventh day with no clear resolution in sight, the international community watches closely. Will diplomacy prevail, or will the Strait of Hormuz remain a flashpoint for further escalation? Share this article with your network and join the conversation about one of the most pressing geopolitical crises unfolding today.

Source: BBC News – World