U.S. Strikes Near Tehran as Iran Abandons Peace Pact in Major Escalation
Direct hostilities enter a sixth day as U.S. forces strike the Iranian capital and Tehran declares an 'existential war.'
The conflict between the United States and Iran has reached a critical turning point as hostilities enter their sixth consecutive day. In a significant expansion of the military campaign, U.S. forces launched airstrikes near Tehran and northern provinces early Thursday, moving beyond previous engagements localized around the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan and conducted drone strikes against regional targets in Kuwait and Bahrain, including C-RAM radar systems.
Diplomatic relations have effectively collapsed as Iran's Foreign Ministry declared the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) "ineffective" and formally abandoned the interim peace deal. Tehran has characterized the current fighting as an "existential war" and warned of military consequences for any nation assisting in the U.S.-led naval blockade. Iranian state media currently reports at least 35 deaths and hundreds of injuries following the latest U.S. sorties, which included strikes near Bushehr.
President Donald Trump has signaled a further escalation of the air campaign, suggesting that power plants and bridges could be targeted if Tehran refuses to negotiate. However, Vice President JD Vance emphasized that the administration does not intend to deploy ground troops. On the economic front, the U.S. has reimposed a total naval blockade of Iranian ports and expanded sanctions to include the cryptocurrency and oil sectors, leading to severe disruptions in maritime traffic through the Gulf and Red Sea.
Key Points
- U.S. forces struck targets near Tehran and other northern provinces for the first time in the current conflict.
- Iran retaliated by launching Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan and drone strikes in Kuwait and Bahrain.
- The IRGC officially abandoned the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, declaring an 'existential war' against the United States.
- A total U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports has resumed, supported by the first deployment of one-way attack sea drones.
- Iranian state media reports over 35 fatalities and 300 injuries resulting from the latest wave of American strikes.
- President Trump warned of potential strikes against Iranian infrastructure; VP JD Vance clarified that no ground troops will be deployed.