US launches new airstrikes on Iran as Tehran warns of red line in Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Central Command announced on Thursday that a new wave of airstrikes began around 9:30 p.m. local time, aimed at further degrading Iran's military capabilities. The strikes hit southern coastal facilities and, according to Iranian media, extended to the Semnan province north of Tehran, an area that hosts a ballistic-missile complex.

Iran's foreign ministry condemned the attacks as war crimes, accusing the United States of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a mineral-water plant in Dehloran and a maritime traffic control center in Chabahar. The ministry said the actions violate the United Nations Charter and international law.

In response, an Iranian military spokesperson warned that any U.S. interference in the Strait of Hormuz would cross an "unbreakable red line" and that Iran's retaliation would exceed enemy calculations, potentially opening new arenas of confrontation.

The United States reiterated that its operations aim to protect commercial shipping in the strait. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged possible temporary oil-market disruptions but highlighted measures such as releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and a waiver of the Jones Act to keep prices stable.

The latest escalation follows a collapse of a 14-point memorandum of understanding that had paused hostilities since April. Regional experts caution that the back-and-forth strikes risk a prolonged conflict, while countries like India have barred their seafarers from vessels transiting the strait after recent drone attacks.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains at roughly one-tenth of pre-war levels, with most vessels taking routes close to the Iranian coast despite safety concerns.

Diplomatic efforts continue, with Pakistan and other regional actors urging restraint and a return to negotiations, even as both sides maintain the option of further military action.