A US official has said the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran has “at least temporarily ceased" following a fresh wave of American military strikes on Iranian targets overnight.
In an interview with CNN, the official described the situation as “very dynamic" and indicated that additional military operations remain a possibility.
According to the official, the latest strikes were aimed at Iranian missiles, drones and facilities near the Strait of Hormuz that were assessed as potential threats to US forces and commercial shipping. The operation involved both US naval assets and land-based military forces.
The comments came after US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had launched “additional strikes" designed to further weaken Iran’s capability to threaten freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route.
The renewed military action followed US President Donald Trump's announcement that the ceasefire with Iran had ended after he authorised fresh strikes in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump also cautioned Tehran that any further attacks on commercial shipping would invite a far stronger American response.
Earlier on Wednesday, however, the US president had expressed confidence that the latest escalation would conclude “very quickly" while leaving the door open for renewed diplomatic engagement.
Iranian state media reported explosions in multiple locations along the country's southern coastline following the US strikes, including Bandar Abbas, Konarak and Chabahar.
The latest exchange of attacks has also placed the memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed more than three weeks ago to initiate a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, under renewed strain.
The interim agreement had been intended to facilitate negotiations on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Tehran’s nuclear programme after the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The fresh hostilities have now cast uncertainty over whether those planned negotiations can move forward.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Nations have appealed to both countries to avoid further escalation and adhere to the commitments outlined in the MoU, warning that continued military confrontation could further destabilise the region.
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