Iran-US war latest: Trump calls strikes ‘retribution’ after Tehran attacked ships

Swipe for next article

Liveupdated

Iran-US war latest: Trump calls strikes ‘retribution’ after Tehran attacked ships and says they could ‘get much worse’

Trump said it was a ‘waste of time’ dealing with Iran following strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz

The US has continued carrying out airstrikes against Iran, after Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that the fragile ceasefire between the two nations is “over” in the wake of Iranian attacks on commercial vessels this week.

The president wrote on social media on Wednesday evening US time that the strikes were “in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran,” warning that it could “get much worse” if hostilities continue.

Central Command said American forces were “attempting to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz”.

Explosions have been reported in coastal areas across southern Iran.

The resumption of attacks comes as the president said he was “not sure” if he wanted to make a deal with Tehran going forward.

Asked why he now viewed Iran’s leadership as “scum”, the US leader told the Nato summit that he “got to know 'em”.

President Trump also said he did not think a full-fledged conflict would erupt in the wake ​of strikes from both sides.

Trump issues warning of 'much worse' strikes and shares video of explosions

President Donald Trump warned that American forces will step up attacks if hostilities from Iran continue.

“This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran”, he wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. “If it happens again, it will get much worse!”

The president also shared video showing explosions above an urban area at night, though the source and content of the video was not immediately unclear.

Josh Marcus8 July 2026 23:02

US military in 'wait-and-see mode,' official says

U.S. military leaders are cautiously monitoring the situation after American forces struck targets across Iran tonight.

A U.S. official told a CNN reporter aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the north Arabian Sea that forces were in “wait-and-see mode” after targeting missile and drone capabilities in Iran, as well as targets that could threaten shipping near the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. Navy conducted the strikes via land and sea, the official said.

Josh Marcus8 July 2026 22:44

US ramping up strikes in second day of Iran bombings, official says

The ongoing strikes against Iran will be greater in number than the ones carried out on Tuesday, a US official told Reuters.

Targets are expected to include Iranian military coastal radars, anti-ship missile positions and air defence systems.

Harriette Boucher8 July 2026 22:19

Hospital hit by shrapnel in US attack

An Iranian hospital has been struck by shrapnel from projectiles in US attacks on Wednesday.

Local media reported that Chabahar’s Imam Ali Hospital was hit.

Several southern Iranian towns have been targeted in strikes on Wednesday, as the US looks to strike military targets in the Strait of Hormuz.

Harriette Boucher8 July 2026 22:02

‘Sort yourselves out, we need you!’: Finland’s PM berates UK for changing PM again at Nato summit

Britain was urged to “sort itself out” and “do what needs to be done” on the world stage by the Finnish president as allies gathered for a challenging summit of Nato leaders in Turkey.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight on the sidelines of the meeting on Tuesday, Alexander Stubb warned of the “precarious” state of global politics and urged the UK: “Just sort yourself out, please. We need you.”

“In other words, stay British. Stay calm. Do what needs to be done,” he said, adding: “I just think it’s very important that we have a strong and stable United Kingdom in Europe and in the world.”

Britain urged to ‘sort yourselves out’ as world leaders gather for Nato summit

Alexander Stubb said previously that Europe should build a flexible partnership with the UK after Brexit

James Reynolds8 July 2026 22:00

US strikes on Iran will be larger than yesterday's - report

US strikes in southern Iran are expected to be wider in scope than yesterday’s attacks, an official has said.

Iranian military targets in the Strait of Hormuz have been targeted on Wednesday is an effort to get Tehran to stop striking commercial ships.

A US official told Axios that the targets included Iranian military coastal radars, anti-ship missile positions and air defence systems.

Harriette Boucher8 July 2026 21:58

Explosions reported throughout southern Iran

Explosions have been heard in the Bushehr area of Iran and the city of Bandar Abbas, which the US struck overnight.

The southern port city of Chabahar has also been attacked, according to local media.

Citing an informed source, Iran’s Nournews reported that a US attack on Bushehr did not cause any damage to the nuclear power plant.

Harriette Boucher8 July 2026 21:49

US begins another night of strikes on Iran

The US has started carrying out further strikes on Iran tonight.

Central Command confirmed the attacks on social media, saying “forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway.”

It comes after Donald Trump told a Nato summit that he did not think a full-fledged conflict in Iran would erupt in the wake of renewed clashes overnight.

At the same press conference, the US president also issued several threats to Tehran.

Harriette Boucher8 July 2026 21:24

In pictures: Mourners gather during funeral ceremonies for late supreme leader

Harriette Boucher8 July 2026 21:05

Comment: Donald Trump’s temper tantrum has just killed off his own Iran deal – and this is why

The president’s instinct is now to wrong-foot allies and enemies alike, but by pulling focus away from Nato he is showing there is at least some method to his childishness, says Anchal Vohra:

Donald Trump’s temper tantrum has just killed off his own Iran deal – and this is why

The president’s instinct is now to wrong-foot allies and enemies alike, but by pulling focus away from Nato he is showing there is at least some method to his childishness, says Anchal Vohra

James Reynolds8 July 2026 21:00