The United States carried out another round of airstrikes on Iran on Thursday, marking the sixth consecutive night of military operations as tensions between the two countries continued to rise. Despite the ongoing attacks, the White House said diplomatic communication with Tehran remains active and that Iran is still seeking an agreement with Washington.
US launches fresh military operation
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest strikes began at 2 PM ET (1800 GMT) and were aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities.
‘US Central Command began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran… to further degrade Iranian military capabilities,’ CENTCOM said in a statement.
Soon after, Iranian state television reported that ‘American projectiles’ had hit areas in and around Bandar Abbas, a key port city in southern Iran that overlooks the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency also reported strikes near Qeshm Island, another significant location in the Gulf region.
White House says diplomacy remains an option
Even as military operations continued, the White House maintained that talks with Iran had not completely broken down.
Speaking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tehran was still communicating with Washington and remained interested in reaching an agreement.
‘Iran very much continues to talk to the United States of America and express that they want to make a deal with us because they are suffering devastating blows on behalf of our US military,’ Leavitt said.
She also defended the strikes, saying President Donald Trump would not ignore Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Leavitt said Trump would not ‘sit by and allow these active acts of terrorism to take place in the strait without ensuring Iran pays consequences for that.’
At the same time, she added that the president ‘was always open to diplomacy.’
Focus on Southern Iran
The latest strikes are part of a broader US campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure along the country’s southern coastline. American officials have accused Iran of using positions near the Strait of Hormuz to threaten commercial vessels passing through the waterway.
Bandar Abbas, one of the reported targets, is home to Iran’s largest commercial port and several naval and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities.
Shipping disruptions continue
The conflict has also intensified concerns over global shipping. Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted after Iran tightened control over the strategic passage, prompting the United States to respond by blockading Iranian ports.
As one of the world’s most important energy routes, the Strait of Hormuz carries nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies. The latest escalation has fuelled fresh concerns over maritime security and contributed to a rise in global oil prices.
First published on: Jul 17, 2026 07:26 AM IST
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