Geopolitical tension in the region has reached a critical point. On the night of June 11, the US and Iran have been striking each other's targets for the second consecutive day. According to the latest data, the cause of the escalation was Tehran's delay in finalizing a deal, which triggered a resumption of active hostilities.
From a helicopter incident to a missile response
The chain of events began earlier in the week when US President Donald Trump stated that an American AH-64 Apache helicopter had been shot down by Iranians in the Strait of Hormuz. This incident prompted an immediate response from Washington: on the night of June 10, both sides exchanged their first strikes.
However, the conflict did not end there. On Wednesday, June 10, Donald Trump publicly declared that Iran was intentionally stalling negotiations and that Tehran must "pay" for it. The President announced that a new wave of attacks would follow on the same day.
Scenarios in the White House and a Pentagon statement
By evening, it was reported that Trump held a meeting in the White House Situation Room. Various scenarios for resuming attacks were discussed. One of them involved a large-scale but short-term operation aimed at altering Iran's negotiating position.
Almost immediately after this, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth announced that the US would carry out further attacks either that night or the next. An hour after his words, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) officially confirmed the start of a new phase of the operation.
Course of hostilities and closure of the strait
Media reported explosions in several areas, including the outskirts of Tehran and the Strait of Hormuz region. It is known that the US conducted at least two waves of attacks.
In response, the Iranian Armed Forces announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels, stating that any attempts to move would be met with fire. At the same time, CENTCOM refuted these claims, asserting that merchant ships continued to move in both directions.
Trump's direct command and the threat of total war
Amidst the events, Fox News journalist Trey Yingst reported a phone conversation with Donald Trump, who was personally directing the strikes from the Situation Room. The President stated that he had a direct dialogue with Iranian officials who requested the cessation of bombings.
Trump declared that the attacks would soon end but warned: if Tehran does not sign a deal, the US will bomb the country. He called the current situation "the most frequently violated ceasefire in world history." At the time of the conversation, according to the President, the US had launched 49 Tomahawk missiles at Iran and was conducting airstrikes from fighter jets.
End of the night and mutual accusations
At 4 a.m., CENTCOM announced the conclusion of the series of strikes. Targets included Iranian surveillance assets, communication systems, and air defense facilities. The command's statement emphasized that these actions were a response to "unjustified and ongoing aggression".
According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), US attacks were directed at the corps' infrastructure facilities, coastal posts, and the area around Bandar Abbas airport.
Regarding Iran's retaliatory actions, the IRGC claims to have struck 18 "significant targets," including an airbase in Bahrain and two in Kuwait. However, CNN notes that no air raid alarms have been detected in Kuwait in recent hours.
Prospects for a deal
Against the backdrop of the escalation, US Vice President JD Vance stated that Washington is in a favorable position to conclude a deal that would be beneficial both economically and in the long term. The official suggested that the document could be signed either next week or in a few months, but emphasized that this must happen before the US midterm elections.