WASHINGTON — The United States launched additional military strikes against targets in Iran on Wednesday on the orders of President Donald Trump, as negotiations aimed at ending the more than three-month conflict stalled and tensions in the region intensified.
US Central Command said American forces conducted “additional self-defense strikes” against multiple targets in Iran in response to what it described as continued Iranian aggression. Iranian media reported explosions in southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz.
The attacks marked the second consecutive day of US strikes. Speaking to reporters, Trump said the United States would continue military action after expressing frustration with Iran’s negotiating position.
“We hit them hard yesterday. We’re going to hit them again hard today,” Trump said. He added that negotiators had been close to reaching an agreement but had failed to finalize a deal.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States could conduct a third round of strikes and described any further action as “strong” and “clear.”
The renewed fighting prompted international calls for restraint. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned against a return to full-scale war.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, rejected Trump’s threats and said lasting agreements could not be achieved through force or intimidation.
Despite the escalation, diplomatic efforts continued. A diplomat familiar with the talks said Qatari negotiators traveled to Tehran on Wednesday to meet with Iranian officials and discuss remaining issues.
The conflict began at the end of February when the United States and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran. The fighting disrupted regional stability and affected global markets before a fragile truce took effect.
The war has also affected global energy markets. Iran responded to earlier attacks by restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil supplies. Trump said the US military had helped ensure the passage of 100 million barrels of oil through the strait.
Oil prices rose about 2 percent on Wednesday, while global stock markets mostly declined amid concerns over the conflict, rising US inflation and weakness in technology stocks.
Iran said it launched attacks on US military bases in Jordan and Bahrain on Tuesday in response to American strikes and the earlier downing of a helicopter.
The United States confirmed that Iran shot down an Apache helicopter, the second crewed US aircraft lost during the conflict. The military said both crew members were rescued.
Bahrain said it intercepted and destroyed several Iranian aerial threats, while Jordan reported shooting down five missiles without casualties or damage. Kuwait said its air defense systems engaged hostile aerial targets.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned neighboring countries against allowing the United States or Israel to use their territory for military operations against Iran.
The US military also said an American warplane disabled a tanker in the Gulf of Oman that it accused of transporting Iranian oil in violation of a US blockade.
Russia and China called for de-escalation. China urged all parties to stop intensifying the conflict.
Iran maintained that any agreement to end the war must include a ceasefire in Lebanon, where hostilities expanded after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel on March 2.
Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground operation. More than 3,600 people have died in the conflict, while exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have continued despite a truce.
A medical source told Agence France-Presse that Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed 12 people on Wednesday.