US, Iran launch more attacks as mediators urge warring sides to uphold MoU

The United States and Iran have launched a second day of attacks against each other, further eroding the fragile ceasefire that was already under strain after US President Donald Trump declared the truce “over”. The US military said late Wednesday that the strikes targeted Iran’s “ability to threaten the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

US strikes

Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the US hit approximately 90 military targets, including missile and drone storage facilities and logistics sites along Iran’s coastline. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the strikes “retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran” and warned that if it happens again, “it will get much worse!”

The attacks struck a railway bridge in northeastern Iran, and state news agency IRNA reported strikes on a military base in Bushehr, which hosts the country’s only civilian nuclear power plant. The railway service on the Tehran-Mashhad line was temporarily suspended, with buses arranged for affected passengers. Explosions were reported in the port cities of Bandar Abbas, Konarak, and Chabahar, parts of which lost electricity.

Iran’s Health Ministry said at least 14 people were killed and 78 injured over the past two days. IRNA reported three killed in an attack on the outskirts of Ahvaz and one firefighter killed in an attack on an airport facility in Iranshahr.

Iranian retaliation

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Thursday it carried out attacks on “key infrastructure and facilities” at US military bases in Arifjan and Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, and Juffair and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain. Later, the Iranian army said it targeted a Patriot missile system in Kuwait, a satellite antenna in Qatar, and US military fuel depots in Bahrain.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence said it was intercepting missiles and drones, while Qatar issued an “elevated security threat” alert.

Diplomatic efforts

The renewed fighting threatens a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in June that extended an April ceasefire and aimed to gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. The MoU was mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.

Speaking to reporters en route back from the NATO summit in Turkiye, Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was “over” but left the door open for more talks, adding that the Iranian side had “called a little while ago” and wanted “to make a deal so badly.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, as did Pakistan. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that Washington and Tehran should implement the MoU to end the war.