President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he “couldn’t care less” if Iran signs a “worthless” agreement to end the war, adding that he is not trying to force Tehran to the bargaining table. He claimed the United States now has “almost total control of the Hormuz Strait” and described Iran’s economy as “totally collapsing,” while urging the Iranian people to “rise up and fight.”
The conflict escalated on Wednesday as U.S. forces struck Iran’s southern coast and Iran responded with attacks on American bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq. Iran accused the United States of hitting a wedding party, killing four people and wounding dozens, and warned that any cooperation with the U.S. military would bring “dangerous consequences.”
U.S. Central Command reported a wave of strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets, including air‑defence sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine‑laying capabilities and communications facilities. The statement said the attacks followed IRGC actions against ships in the Strait of Hormuz and against U.S. service members. U.S. officials also confirmed that two Iranian government tankers were hit during the operation, which followed an earlier strike on Iran’s Larak Island that targeted launchers firing mines into the strait.
The renewed fighting pushed Brent crude prices to about $92 a barrel, the highest level since July. Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said the Islamic Republic remains ready for serious talks to end the war, while seeking greater control of the Strait of Hormuz, the release of blocked funds and the lifting of sanctions. A June cease‑fire agreement that had incorporated many of Tehran’s demands collapsed within weeks over strait control, and no public negotiations have taken place since.
