The United States dramatically expanded its military campaign against Iran on Wednesday night, striking approximately 90 additional military targets along Iran’s southern coastline after Tehran resumed attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest wave of strikes came less than 24 hours after U.S. forces hit roughly 80 Iranian military targets in retaliation for attacks on merchant vessels, marking one of the largest American military operations against Iran in recent years.

In a statement released Wednesday night, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces targeted key elements of Iran’s military infrastructure designed to threaten international shipping.

“U.S. forces struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets including air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline,” CENTCOM said.

The military said the operation was intended to “further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Trump: “It Will Be Over Very Quickly”

President Donald Trump signaled Wednesday that the United States has no interest in a prolonged conflict but warned Iran that every attack on commercial shipping would be met with overwhelming force.

“I don’t think it’s going to start again. I think it’s going to go very quickly,” Trump said during a press conference following the NATO summit in Ankara.

“They hit a couple of ships, and so we hit them much harder.”

Trump emphasized that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains a non-negotiable American objective.

“Anything that happens is going to be over very quickly, and we’ll only make it safer — including for oil,” he said.

Later aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed that Iran had reached out seeking renewed negotiations.

“They called a little while ago, they want to make a deal so badly,” Trump told reporters.

“I just don’t know if they are worthy of making a deal. I don’t know if they are going to honor a deal.”

He described Iran’s recent actions as erratic.

“They’re sort of crazy. They’re a little bit out of control.”

Trump again warned that any future Iranian attacks would bring an overwhelming response.

“Every time they hit us we’re going to hit them twenty-fold.”

Vance Issues Stark Warning

Vice President JD Vance echoed the president’s warning, saying the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran was straightforward.

“The basic deal that we cut was we’ll lift our blockade if you stop shooting at ships,” Vance said.

“But if you shoot at ships, we are going to punch back, and we’re going to punch back harder than ever before.”

Earlier in the day, Vance said:

“If they shoot at ships, we’re going to knock the hell out of them.”

Iran Threatens Wider Conflict

Despite the latest American strikes, Iran continued issuing threats.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it launched missiles and drones at U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait following the American operation.

Iran also warned that any future U.S. attacks could trigger strikes against additional American bases throughout the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei warned countries that assisted the United States they could also face consequences.

“Those who provided their territories, military bases, and infrastructure to enable the aggression cannot evade responsibility,” Baqaei said.

He also criticized NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after Rutte described recent U.S. military operations as “absolutely necessary.”

Israel Closely Monitoring Escalation

Although the current fighting has remained centered around the Persian Gulf and has not spread to Israel, Israeli defense officials are maintaining a heightened level of readiness amid concerns the conflict could rapidly expand.

According to Israeli media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held high-level security consultations Wednesday evening as the latest strikes unfolded.

The IDF has reportedly kept offensive and defensive plans ready, with fighter aircraft armed and on standby while maintaining close coordination with U.S. Central Command.

Israeli television also reported that U.S. aerial refueling aircraft are returning to the region after having been withdrawn during the ceasefire period, a move viewed as another indication Washington is preparing for additional military operations if necessary.

Strait Of Hormuz Remains Flashpoint

The renewed fighting stems from Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass.

While international mediators including Qatar and Pakistan have urged both sides to exercise restraint and preserve last month’s memorandum of understanding, Iran continues insisting it alone will determine how maritime traffic operates through the strait.

Tehran has also threatened once again to close the vital shipping lane if additional U.S. military action continues.

The Pentagon has indicated U.S. forces remain fully prepared for further operations if Iranian attacks continue.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)