US Strikes Iran for Sixth Consecutive Night as Battle for Strait of Hormuz Intensifies

The United States military has launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iran for the sixth consecutive night, as the battle for control over the Strait of Hormuz continues. The strategic waterway is currently under blockade by Tehran. The US Central Command (Centcom) stated on Thursday that the strikes aimed to “further degrade Iran’s military capabilities.” According to Iranian state media reports, US missiles struck areas near Qeshm Island in the Gulf, adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the Bandar Abbas and Bushehr regions, the latter being the site of a nuclear power plant. The overnight exchange of fire has further complicated the two nations’ tentative agreement to end the war. Amidst the escalating situation, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt affirmed that President Donald Trump remains open to dialogue. “The president will hold them accountable when they renege on promises made to the United States. However, at the same time, he is always open to diplomacy,” Leavitt told reporters. Leavitt added that Iran has actually indicated it still wants to make a deal with the US. “We are talking to them, but again, the president will not allow them to fire on ships in the strait without facing consequences,” she stressed. Previously, Tehran claimed to have attacked US military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Conversely, the US stated it had launched a six-hour wave of strikes at several locations in the Strait of Hormuz. The US also warned Iran to “behave well” or face further military action if it refuses to return to the negotiating table. Responding to the pressure, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that Tehran “has no reason” to comply with any agreement that does not benefit his country. He asserted that Iran’s national security depends on maintaining what he termed the “Iranian arrangement” in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the issue of prisoners between the two countries remains unclear. On Wednesday, Trump briefly praised Iran on his Truth Social platform for the release of Dena Karari, an American detainee he claimed had been arbitrarily held since December 2024. “The United States appreciates this gesture of goodwill from Iran!” Trump wrote. Karari’s lawyer, Jared Genser, also confirmed his client was en route back to the US. However, this statement was immediately denied by the Iranian judiciary on Thursday, which insisted that no American prisoners had been released or exchanged from their prisons.