Trump says deal 'still possible' as US strikes Iran

The United States launched a fresh salvo of strikes against Iran, marking a new escalation in the resumption of hostilities, even as US President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran was still possible.

"We're going to hit them very hard tonight, and we're going to hit them hard tomorrow," Mr Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Shortly after, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced strikes had begun at 9.45pm Irish time, the third consecutive night of attacks.

"These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said.

Mr Trump formally notified Congress last week that the US had resumed military conflict against Iran, the White House confirmed to AFP, giving the Pentagon an additional 60 days to operate in the region without congressional approval.

The US military said it had hit dozens of targets early yesterday, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced new strikes on Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Oman.

Mr Trump also threatened to destroy Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear site near Natanz where Western intelligence suspects Iran is building an undeclared enrichment facility.

"Tell the Iranians to be ready. Let them know we're coming, there's not a damn thing they can do about it," he told Mr Hewitt.

'Guardian of the Hormuz'

CENTCOM, following Mr Trump's orders, announced it would reimpose a blockade on Iranian ports beginning at 9pm Irish time today. Oil prices shot up more than 9% over fears of renewed conflict.

In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump declared the United States would be "'known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT'" and levy a 20% fee on all cargo shipped through the waterway.

While Iran's ports would again be blockaded, Mr Trump said "all other countries will have fair and open use of the strait".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi immediately mocked President Trump's toll threat, writing on X that "POTUS is absolutely right" that whoever guarantees safe passage should be compensated - but that Iran would charge less.

"20% is of course too much," he added.

The US has vehemently opposed Iran's desire to charge tolls in the strait, which international law generally forbids.

'In crisis'

Despite all signs to the contrary, Mr Trump said yesterday that a deal with Iran to end the Middle East war was still possible.

"Yeah, I think a deal is possible. Sure, I do," Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "We had a deal with them two days ago and then they said 'Oh we can't make that deal. We have to negotiate it further.'"

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that the June memorandum of understanding that formed the basis for the negotiations and lifted the US blockade was "in crisis".

The previous blockade, in place from April to June, cut off Iranian oil exports and threatened a damaging shutdown of the industry.

Mr Baghaei said Iran would ignore its obligations under the deal if the United States did the same, but added that Iran was continuing talks with mediators from Qatar, Pakistan and Oman to prevent further escalation.

But analyst Bader Al-Saif said the escalating attacks would merely delay a permanent agreement.

"Both sides want to end the impasse on their own terms, and they are increasingly finding it difficult to do so. Hence the return to an increase in the scale of attacks," said Mr Al-Saif, an associate fellow at Chatham House.

'Act of war'

Iranian state media reported deaths in the latest US strikes, which it said targeted large areas across the south and west.

Read more: Oil gains over 4% as Trump says US reinstating Iran naval blockade

At least four explosions were heard yesterday east of Bandar Abbas, which sits on the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported, citing a reporter in the port city's province.

At least 25 people have been killed in Iran since hostilities resumed last week, according to an AFP tally based on Iranian announcements.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed "deep concern" at the regional escalation, including attacks by both sides.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck US military targets and bases in Jordan and Kuwait, state media reported.

They added that said they had carried out a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes on Bahrain this morning, after the Gulf country urged citizens to take shelter as a siren sounded.

"Several weapons support warehouses, a satellite communications centre and the residential building for US forces in Bahrain were targeted," Iranian state television IRIB quoted the Guards as saying.

Jordan's army said it had intercepted four Iranian missiles.

The United Arab Emirates said this morning that Iran attacked two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member and wounding eight others.

"The Ministry of Defence condemned this flagrant attack, describing it as a grave violation and a clear breach of international law that threatens regional security and stability," the defence ministry wrote on X.

Iran insists it only targets US interests in the Gulf, but the spokesman for Jordan's military command said any collaboration by Gulf countries with the United States would be considered "an act of war".