U.S. and Iran exchange new strikes as cease-fire talks stall
The United States and Iran launched fresh attacks on each other, raising doubts about the durability of their interim cease-fire agreement and causing civilian casualties in Iran.
The United States said it struck about 90 Iranian military targets, including air-defense systems, missile and drone storage sites and naval facilities along Iran’s coast, after President Donald Trump declared the fragile cease-fire over. Iranian state media reported explosions in several southern cities and condemned the strikes as a war crime, saying they hit civilian infrastructure such as two railway bridges on the route to Mashhad.
Iran responded with attacks on U.S. allies in the region, prompting alerts in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, which reported intercepting Iranian missiles. The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the United States of targeting civilian sites, while a local official claimed a U.S. strike hit the perimeter of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
Iran’s Health Ministry said the U.S. attacks killed at least 14 people and injured 78. The Pentagon has not immediately responded to the Iranian accusations.
The renewed fighting comes amid a 60-day negotiating window that began with a June memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. Talks have been paused as Iran holds funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
President Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, warned that further Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz would provoke a stronger response, but he said he would still allow negotiations to continue, expressing doubt about Iran’s willingness to honor any deal.