US military continues strikes on Iran as attacks overshadow diplomacy

Lead

The United States military completed its 11th night of strikes on Iran early Wednesday, including on aircraft hangars and drone storage sites, according to U.S. Central Command. The strikes come as renewed conflict continues to undermine diplomatic efforts to salvage an interim ceasefire deal, which has collapsed, according to reports from Africa News and The Guardian.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict, to meet with army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, as diplomats sought to revamp diplomacy. However, it remains unclear what new arrangement might be reached to end the fighting, which has increasingly centered on control over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital to world energy supplies.

Coverage comparison

The Guardian reports the latest U.S. barrage came as President Donald Trump warned strikes would intensify and declared the U.S. would target "very heavily" the area near Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified underground site near one of Iran's primary nuclear enrichment facilities. Africa News similarly reported that Trump, speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, gave a dim view on possible talks, saying the U.S. had "no interest in meeting," and signaled that U.S. forces could soon target an area of Iran close to one of its main sites for enriching uranium.

While The Guardian and Africa News focus on the military escalation, The Hindu highlights the diplomatic track, noting that Momeni began meetings Tuesday with mediators in Pakistan as both countries continued to launch attacks for a 10th day of renewed fighting.

Key claims

Multiple sources report that Iran attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the crew to abandon the ship. The Guardian also reports that Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, potentially opening a new front in the war. The Houthis control the coast at the mouth of the Red Sea, and with the Strait of Hormuz blocked, Saudi Arabia has been relying on a pipeline to the Red Sea to get millions of barrels of oil out to market.

According to the Guardian, the US war in Iran has cost $37.5bn so far, as stated by U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, an increase of nearly $8bn since the last public estimate. The Guardian also reports that the number of wounded U.S. personnel in the Iran war has grown to well more than 500 troops, citing a U.S. official told the Associated Press.

The Hindu reports that Iran targeted Jordan with five drones and three missiles and struck desalination and power plants in Kuwait. The same source states the United States conducted airstrikes targeting Iranian military command centers.

Energy prices have been affected by the escalation. The Guardian reports Brent crude was trading up 1.2% at $92.09 a barrel at around 0130 GMT, its highest intraday price since 11 June, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 1.1% to $85.23. The Hindu notes that benchmark Brent crude traded Tuesday at nearly USD 90 a barrel and regular gasoline in the US climbed to an average of $4 a gallon, keeping pressure on Americans' wallets ahead of midterm elections this fall.

President Trump took to social media to warn that "Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over!" The U.S. State Department issued a new warning to Americans, saying "Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world."