Trump considers large-scale attack on Iran after ongoing strikes

The conflict between the US and Iran continues as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its strikes have gone on for 13 nights straight as of Friday morning.

US airstrikes hit cities in southern Iran like Khorramabad, Jask, Ahvaz, and Bandar Abbas, killing at least four Iranians.

In a statement on X, CENTCOM reported that they targeted Iranian military sites, drone storage areas, communication networks, coastal surveillance locations, and maritime capabilities.

They stated that the purpose of the strikes is to reduce the Iranian threat to “civilian mariners and commercial vessels” in the Strait of Hormuz.

In response, Iran attacked the Sheikh Isa Air Base and the Al-Azraq Air Base in Bahrain, both of which are US military bases.

President Donald Trump has said he is thinking about a “massive attack” on Iran that would leave the country in ruins.

On Thursday, Trump remarked that Iran has not “received enough pain yet.”

According to PREMIUM TIMES, Trump added that the forthcoming attack “will be bigger than ever before,” and he is close to making a decision on it.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, responded by saying that Iran will keep hitting US interests and allies in direct proportion to US strikes.

Iran has also turned down a ceasefire proposal from Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

The New York Times reported that Mr al-Zaidi recently visited Iran and presented the proposal to President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Ghalibaf, and Araghchi after his recent visit to the White House.

Pezeshkian told Iranian state media that the countries already have enough mediators, saying, “the problem is not passing messages.”

He added, “The problem is America’s outlook, which is illogical, greedy and controlling.”

The US and Iran have been locked in a fight for control of the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides exchanging strikes since the first week of July.

Initially, American forces focused on Iranian military facilities near the port, but they soon expanded to strike infrastructure like railroads, airports, bridges, and seaports.

Iran also targeted US military assets in the Middle East, resulting in the deaths of at least four American service members.

The latest wave of strikes and the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have pushed international crude oil prices up to $100 a barrel on Thursday, the highest in over a month. Before the US and Israel began their attacks on Iran on February 28, prices were below $70. Although a ceasefire was announced in April and oil prices fell, the latest strikes have caused prices to rise again.