US-Iran war news LIVE: US carries out fresh strikes in Iran after Trump's threat to hit Tehran 'very hard'

US-Iran war news LIVE: The US military on Wednesday (local time) began conducting fresh strikes in Iran, marking its first attacks since 24 July, when US President Donald Trump paused military action to give negotiations another chance, Axios reported, citing a US official. The strikes against Tehran were launched in retaliation for an Iranian missile attack targeting a US base in Jordan a day earlier. According to the US military, all the missiles were intercepted. On Wednesday, Trump told reporters that Washington would hit Tehran "very hard" and added that the Islamic Republic had acknowledged that launching the missiles was a mistake and asked the US not to retaliate.

The Pentagon on Wednesday said the US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, as conflicts in Iran and Ukraine continue to strain US weapons stockpiles. The Army said the Lockheed contract converts a previous one-year deal worth $4.7 billion, awarded in April, into a seven-year agreement, creating a multiyear procurement plan for the interceptors from fiscal years 2026 through 2032. Washington has supplied large quantities of weapons to its allies while also using munitions in its military operations against the Islamic Republic, raising concerns over inventories of key air defence and precision-guided weapons.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of threatening merchant vessels attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. This key waterway has remained a sticking point in negotiations between the two sides. CENTCOM said maintaining access to the crucial sea route is essential for global maritime traffic, regardless of Iran's claims. In an official statement issued on Wednesday (local time), CENTCOM said the IRGC had recently threatened and attempted to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the strategic waterway. The statement added: "After recently threatening and attempting to attack commercial vessels and innocent mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to claim that international mariners should only use routes the IRGC prefers."

Washington has imposed fresh sanctions on entities linked to the IRGC, accusing them of extorting commercial vessels operating through the Strait of Hormuz. The US Treasury Department said the measures target eight oil tankers and 10 corporate entities. The sanctions mark the latest move in Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign aimed at curbing Iran's illicit petroleum trade and shadow fleet. An official statement said the action targeted "the Iranian regime's desperate efforts to monetise the Strait of Hormuz and prop up the nation's failing economy."

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of threatening merchant vessels attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that has remained a sticking point in negotiations between the two sides. CENTCOM said maintaining access to the crucial sea route is essential for global maritime traffic, regardless of Iran's claims.

The Pentagon on Wednesday said the US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, as conflicts in Iran and Ukraine continue to strain US weapons stockpiles. The Army said the Lockheed contract converts a previous one-year deal worth $4.7 billion, awarded in April, into a seven-year agreement, creating a multiyear procurement plan for the interceptors from fiscal years 2026 through 2032.

The US military on Wednesday (local time) began conducting fresh strikes in Iran, marking its first attacks since 24 July, when US President Donald Trump paused military action to give negotiations another chance, Axios reported, citing a US official. The strikes against Tehran were launched in retaliation for an Iranian missile attack targeting a US base in Jordan a day earlier.

Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.

Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.

At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.

Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.

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