U.S. ramps up strikes, pressure on Iran

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
The Center Square

U.S. strikes against Iran are ramping up after the Islamic Republic was targeted Wednesday following warnings from President Donald Trump that devastating strikes could be coming.

U.S. Central Command confirmed Wednesday that it had carried out “precision munitions” strikes against defense systems along the coast, as well as missile storage and launch sites on Tunb Island, an island located in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest round lasted 90 minutes, marking the first time since renewed military action that the U.S. has targeted the Islamic Republic earlier in the day. It also comes less than 12 hours after CENTCOM carried out a seven-hour mission Tuesday evening.

The U.S. targeted missile and drone sites, as well as naval assets along Iran’s coast, in an effort to curb attacks on commercial shipping vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM Commander Adm. Bradley Cooper has confirmed in recent days Iran has attacked seven commercial ships, with 10 civilian crew members either wounded, dead or missing.

The U.S. reinstated the full naval blockade on Iranian ports Tuesday afternoon. The Trump administration has estimated the blockade costs the Islamic Republic between $400 million and $500 million a day in economic losses. Since the blockade was reinstated, CENTCOM says U.S. forces have redirected two commercial vessels attempting to break through it.

In an interview with Fox News Tuesday evening, the president warned that the Islamic Republic is poised for days of intense strikes, adding it could get much worse for the regime in the coming week.

“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight. We’re going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We’re going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them,” Trump told Fox News.

The president renewed threats he made in the spring that if the Islamic Republic fails to come to the negotiating table, the U.S. could target Iran’s energy infrastructure and bridges.

Despite hoping Iran will return to talks, Trump accused the leadership of lying.

As part of the memorandum of understanding signed in June, the U.S. lifted the blockade while Iran was expected to open the Strait of Hormuz, free of fees and aggression.

The Trump administration has requested $87.6 billion from Congress to cover the costs of the conflict, including more than $70 billion for military expenses, according to a White House supplemental appropriations request.