First Thing: Second day of US strikes on Iran as Trump says Tehran ‘behaving very badly’

US Intensifies Strikes on Iran as Trump Declares Interim Agreement 'Over'

The United States military has carried out strikes on Iran for a second day, hours after President Donald Trump said an interim agreement to end the war was "over." According to reports from The Guardian, the attacks mark the eleventh consecutive night of US strikes on Iranian territory, targeting aircraft hangars and drone storage sites across the country.

Iranian state media reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas in the Strait of Hormuz, in Sirik, another southern coastal city, and in the south-western Bushehr province, home to Iran's nuclear-power-plant complex. US Central Command confirmed the strikes.

The renewed hostilities come after a period of relative calm under a truce that came into effect in April. The Guardian reports that Tehran accused the US of violating the agreement intended to end the war, after the US military launched strikes around the Strait of Hormuz and revoked a temporary sanctions waiver for Iranian oil exports.

Coverage Comparison

The Guardian's reporting across multiple articles presents a consistent picture of the conflict, though with varying emphases. One article focuses on the resumption of hostilities, noting that the US military launched strikes around the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire agreement. Another emphasizes the humanitarian and economic consequences, highlighting the standstill of vessels carrying crucial shipments of oil, gas, and fertiliser.

A third piece details the second day of strikes and quotes President Trump's comments at the Nato summit in Ankara, where he called Iran's leaders "vicious, violent people" and said they were "behaving very badly." The same article also notes that the US military said it hit more than 80 targets in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.

The coverage attributes responsibility for the breakdown of the ceasefire to both sides, with one article suggesting that each side claims it is preventing the other from gaining control over the strait. The language used in the reports includes strong descriptors such as "vicious" and "violent" when quoting President Trump, but the reporting itself maintains a generally neutral tone when describing the events.

Key Claims

• The US military carried out strikes on Iran for a second day, following an eleventh consecutive night of attacks, according to The Guardian. Targets included aircraft hangars and drone storage sites.
• Iranian state media reported explosions in several cities, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Bushehr province.
• Iran launched retaliatory strikes on US air bases and neighbouring Gulf states, which have accused it of deliberately targeting desalination plants essential to life in the region.
• The US and Iran are in conflict over the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil was shipped before the war began.
• The conflict has caused a rise in oil prices, with Brent crude jumping more than 5% to crest $80 a barrel, and contributed to the International Monetary Fund lowering its global economic growth forecast to 3%.
• The US has proposed solutions such as charging tolls on ships entering the strait.
• Iran accused the US of violating the agreement intended to end the war.
• In a separate development, Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for the US Senate in Maine, announced he is suspending his campaign following sexual assault allegations, as reported by The Guardian.