US Hits Iran Targets, Tehran Closes Hormuz to All Vessels

The US Central Command said in a social media post that the military is striking "multiple targets in Iran" and it is happening "in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression".

The strikes come just a day after the US hit Iran following the crash of an Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz that Trump blamed on Tehran.

The strikes come only hours after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military will strike Iran "hard" Wednesday night following threats for more strikes from Trump earlier in the day.

Following new US strikes, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the Strait of Hormuz will be "closed to all vessels", warning that any ship attempting to pass through the waterway could be targeted, CNN reported.

"Effective immediately, due to insecurity in the region, the Strait of Hormuz is declared closed to all vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships," the IRGC said in a post on its official Telegram channel, as cited by CNN.

While Trump said the strikes are further retaliation for what he said is Iran's downing of a US Army Apache helicopter, Hegseth said they are happening "not because we want to restart anything" but because the Pentagon "is prepared to set the terms to ensure that we get the kind of deal President Trump expects".

"Those strikes that will happen tonight will be strong; they will be clear," Hegseth said. "If they have to happen tomorrow night, they will be strong and they will be clear."