DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥� The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in crossfire that again threatened an interim deal intended to help in the Persian Gulf.
The strikes came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said recent Iranian attacks on ships in signaled the end of . The U.S. struck a variety of military sites and port facilities early Wednesday after off the coast of Oman, sparking Iranian fire then as well.
But Thursday鈥檚 attacks appeared bigger all around, with sirens sounding at least three times in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy鈥檚 5th Fleet headquarters. There was no immediate word of damage in the three Gulf Arab countries from attacks claimed by Iran鈥檚 military.
In Iran, the two days of American airstrikes have killed at least 14 people and wounded another 78, Iran鈥檚 Health Ministry said Thursday in its first overall count of casualties.
US strikes hit more targets
The U.S. military’s Central Command said it hit some 90 targets across Iran, releasing black-and-white footage of what appeared to be strikes on an airport runway and missile launchers.
鈥淯.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared to execute operations directed by the Commander in Chief,鈥� it added.
The U.S. says the strikes were intended to 鈥渇urther degrade鈥� Iran鈥檚 ability 鈥渢o threaten freedom of navigation鈥� in the strait, through which a fifth of the world鈥檚 traded oil and natural gas passed before with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Feb. 28.
Iranian state media reported explosions in several locations, including Bushehr, home to , and the southern port cities of Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Abbas and Sirik.
In Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province, at least three people were killed Thursday, state media reported. In Iranshahr, authorities said a strike also had killed a firefighter at an airport. Those fatalities followed at least nine members of Iran’s armed forces being killed in Wednesday’s strikes in Iran. It wasn’t clear when the other fatality happened and who was killed.
For the first time since April, it also appeared the U.S. strikes targeted Iranian bridges. State media reported a strike on a railway bridge in Iran鈥檚 northeastern Golestan province, and the Revolutionary Guard said two bridges had been attacked on the route to Mashhad, where officials plan to bury on Thursday. But it wasn鈥檛 clear if the Golestan attack was the same one mentioned by the Guard.
Trump warns that 鈥榠t will get much worse鈥� if attacks on shipping happen again
After leaving in Turkey, Trump posted several videos on his social media site of what he said were explosions in Iran and issued another warning to the Islamic Republic.
鈥淭his is in retribution for yesterday鈥檚 bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!鈥� Trump wrote.
Trump had said earlier in the day that the latest back-and-forth fighting would not result in 鈥渓ong-term鈥� military action.
鈥淎nything that happens is going to happen very fast,鈥� Trump said, though he also suggested the U.S. military might 鈥渏ust finish the job.鈥�
Trump also renewed to hit Iran鈥檚 civilian infrastructure, including electric plants and desalinization plants, and to seize the .
After three tankers were hit Tuesday, the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, and Iranian forces retaliated by targeting American military sites in the Persian Gulf.
Iran has asserted that the interim ceasefire deal gives it the right to manage traffic through the strait. , a key negotiator in talks seeking a permanent end to the war, was defiant in a post on X on Thursday morning: 鈥淎merica still hasn鈥檛 learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free. Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you鈥檒l get hit.鈥�
Strikes raise fears that war could resume
Trump fueled concerns that the war could restart by saying the interim agreement to pause fighting was 鈥渙ver,鈥� although he added that he would allow negotiations to continue.
Attacks have repeatedly threatened the shaky ceasefire, but Trump鈥檚 comments added new uncertainty, and oil prices after he spoke. A renewed conflict could engulf the wider Middle East and would likely again halt energy shipments through the strait.
鈥淔or me, I think it鈥檚 over,鈥� Trump said when asked about the status of the ceasefire. He added that U.S. representatives can continue negotiations, but he cast doubt on the outcome. 鈥淭hey can talk, but I think they鈥檙e wasting their time,鈥� he said.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, also a top negotiator, retorted on X that Trump鈥檚 remarks 鈥渁re not a sign of power but an admission of the failure鈥� of U.S. policy toward Iran.
Trump has made other threats to seize Kharg Island, , when he also questioned whether the U.S. 鈥渉as the stomach for it.鈥� Some 90% of Iranian oil exports pass through
The new attacks on ships in the strait, despite the negotiations, could reflect a divide among Iran鈥檚 leadership. Hard-liners seek lasting control over the waterway, which is a globally important conduit for fuel shipments and has become a critical lever in confronting the West. Pragmatists want a permanent peace deal to lift international sanctions and provide economic relief.
Negotiations to reach a final deal were due to start after the funeral for , who was killed Feb. 28 in the war鈥檚 first moments. The funeral, which ends Thursday, was supposed to be a period of lower tensions.
The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back .
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