Fresh strikes hit Tehran ahead of US deadline to reopen Strait of Hormuz

More than five weeks into a war that has killed thousands, rattled economies and driven up oil prices, fresh aerial strikes were reported in Tehran as the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran showed no sign of easing.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran he would unleash “hell” if it failed to reach a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran has in effect shut the Hormuz waterway — a passage for about a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas supply — while also striking US military bases and other targets across the Gulf.

Explosions rocked Tehran this morning, and an official told Iranian state media that a US-Israeli strike on a residential building south of the city killed at least 13 people. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” he said.

“There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F**kin’ Strait, you crazy b**tards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”

Blast tape covers buildings in Tehran

In the latest example of the conflicting signals that have bewildered supporters, adversaries and financial markets, Mr Trump told Fox News yesterday that Iran was negotiating and that a deal could be reached as soon as today.

Hours later, Axios reported that the US, Iran and regional mediators were discussing the terms of a possible 45-day ceasefire that could pave the way to a permanent end to the war, citing four US, Israeli and regional sources familiar with the talks.

According to the report, mediators were working on a two-phase agreement.

The opening phase would establish a 45-day ceasefire, followed by a second phase aimed at securing a deal to end the war.

Iran condemns ‘reckless’ US, hits Gulf

Tehran is insisting that hostilities stop, and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer ‌Qalibaf accused Mr Trump of being manipulated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s commands,” he posted yesterday on X.

Signalling that it could still retaliate despite weeks of US-Israeli bombardment, Iran widened its assault on Gulf energy infrastructure, launching drone and missile strikes on petrochemical facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

The Revolutionary Guards also said yesterday that they struck an Israeli‑linked vessel at Dubai’s Jebel Ali port.

In Kuwait, drones ignited fires and caused “severe material damage” at petrochemical plants run by affiliates of state oil company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the company said.

A drone attack sparked a fire at a Kuwait Petroleum Corporation building

The attacks highlighted Iran’s ability to keep up cross‑border strikes and to disrupt infrastructure in several Gulf states at once, laying bare vulnerabilities at major energy and maritime hubs.

In Israel, meanwhile, media showed search-and-rescue teams combing through debris in the northern city of Haifa yesterday after an Iranian missile struck a residential building.

Israeli paramedics said nine people were receiving treatment, and Israeli media later reported that rescuers had pulled two bodies from the rubble.

Commando operation

Mr Trump announced the airman’s rescue in the early hours of yesterday, calling it “one of the most daring” such missions in US history.

The airman — the weapons officer aboard an F-15 shot down on Friday — was injured but “will be just fine”, Mr Trump said in a message on X.

The pilot of the jet had already been rescued.

Under the cover of darkness, US commandos moved deep inside Iran without detection, climbed a 2,100m ridge and brought the stranded airman out before dawn.

US forces destroyed two airplanes and four helicopters to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands

Two MC-130 aircraft that had carried some of the roughly 100 special ‌operations forces into rugged terrain south of Tehran suffered a mechanical failure and were unable to take off, a US official told Reuters.

Commanders then made a high-risk call, ordering more aircraft into Iran to extract the group in successive waves.

The rescue team was withdrawn in stages, and US troops destroyed the disabled MC‑130s along with four additional helicopters inside Iran rather than risk abandoning sensitive equipment.

Iran said several US aircraft were destroyed during the mission.

Israeli airstrikes killed another 11 people in Lebanon yesterday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.