THE United States launched strikes on targets across Iran on Friday as President Donald Trump warned of “major military punishment” against Tehran and its Houthi allies in Yemen, while keeping open the possibility of a negotiated settlement.
The strikes came two weeks after the collapse of an interim truce aimed at ending the conflict, with Iran responding by launching attacks on US military positions in neighbouring Arab countries that host American forces.
Trump said Washington remained engaged in discussions with Iran, describing recent talks as more serious than previous efforts, but warned that the US was prepared to continue military operations if no agreement was reached.
“We are talking to them. I think they’re being serious. I think they are being by far the most serious that we’ve seen them, but that doesn’t mean we get there,” Reuters cited Trump telling reporters at the White House.
Asked about a potential exit strategy from the conflict, Trump said the US could either continue its military campaign or pursue a diplomatic agreement.
“There’s a military exit where we just keep going just the way we are, and we can even make it a heavier dose, and it’s knocking out everything they have. Or there’s a smarter strategy that you make a deal,” he said.
However, he added: “We’re locked and loaded. We’re ready to go.”
Trump has in recent days threatened to expand US targets in Iran to include energy facilities, bridges, and a deep underground nuclear-linked site, while also raising the possibility of deploying ground forces to seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub.
Iran’s armed forces said they had carried out attacks against US military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq, warning that American personnel using civilian buildings could also become targets.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed to have damaged US-linked military infrastructure, including a surveillance facility used by the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and American positions in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
Jordan’s military said it had intercepted seven Iranian missiles and six drones, with no casualties or significant damage reported.
The conflict has heightened concerns over global energy supplies, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route where tensions have contributed to market volatility and inflation fears.
The Houthi movement in Yemen has also announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, forcing some oil shipments to be diverted through alternative routes.
Following Houthi claims that two Saudi tankers were attacked in the Red Sea, Trump warned that Iran would be held responsible for any further attacks by the group.
Meanwhile, sources said Pakistan was exploring a possible pathway towards restarting stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran, following diplomatic efforts involving China.
Exploratory discussions reportedly took place during Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni’s visit to Islamabad, his second visit within 10 days, according to Pakistani sources.
Oil prices briefly rose above US$100 a barrel after the tanker attacks before easing later on Friday, with Brent crude futures falling to slightly above US$96.
The conflict has resulted in casualties on both sides. Iran’s Health Ministry said 59 people had been killed and 666 wounded since clashes with US forces resumed in late June, while the Pentagon said 18 US service members had been killed and more than 100 injured.
The US embassy in Baghdad has advised American citizens across the Middle East to remain cautious and maintain heightened alert levels amid the continuing escalation. - July 25, 2026
