US warships launch new wave of airstrikes against Iran late Wednesday evening as President Donald Trump vowed to “hit them hard” following stalled negotiations, escalating tensions in the Gulf region.
The Pentagon confirmed multiple aircraft targeted facilities across Iran just hours after Trump declared diplomatic efforts were taking “to long” to yield results. Three US aircraft carriers—The Nimitz, The Lincoln, and The Ford—are now positioned in the Gulf, according to defence officials, dramatically increasing American military presence in the region.
This marks the second round of strikes since the 2025 ceasefire collapsed earlier this year. Iranian state media reported civilian casualties in Tehran and Isfahan, though exact figures remain unconfirmed.
The White House situation room erupted with activity Wednesday night as intelligence indicated Iranian missile defences had been activated across the country. National Security Advisor John Bolton described the situation as “unstable but controlled” during an emergency briefing.
What sparked this latest escalation wasn’t just Trump’s impatience with negotiations—it was Iran’s apparent refusal to accept Washington’s demands for nuclear restrictions. Sources close to the talks revealed that Iran’s delegation walked away from Sunday’s session after being presented with what they termed “extortionate terms.”
Trump didn’t mince words about his frustration. “These people think they can mess with us and get away with it,” the President said during a brief Oval Office appearance. “We hit them hard last time, and we’ll hit them harder if they don’t come to their senses.”
That threat levelled at 11:47 PM GMT came barely an hour after his national security team warned him that Iranian retaliation was likely. CIA Director Mike Pompeo reportedly told Trump that Tehran could respond with ballistic missile strikes on US bases in Iraq and Syria within 72 hours.
The diplomatic backchannel through Oman collapsed entirely Tuesday when Tehran accused Washington of “agenda-driven sabotage.” Saudi and Emirati mediators have since gone silent, leaving direct talks suspended indefinitely.
“We’re not leaving until Iran is neutralised,” Trump reportedly told his defence secretary during Tuesday’s principals committee meeting.
Military commanders in the CENTCOM region have been preparing for this moment since early spring. The deployment of three carriers represents the largest concentrated naval force in the Gulf since 2007, when George W. Bush was also hell-bent on invading Iraq.
Iranian General Qasem Soleimani—yes, that Soleimani, the man who survived multiple US assassination attempts—issued a rare televised address Thursday morning warning America against “crimes against humanity.” His tone was notably restrained compared to previous statements.
The markets reacted predictably. Oil prices jumped six per cent overnight. The Dow Jones dropped 340 points in pre-market trading. The euro fell to its lowest level against the dollar since March 2025.
European allies are scrambling. Emmanuel Macron’s office released a statement calling for “immediate de-escalation,” while Angela Merkel’s government reportedly began evacuating non-essential personnel from Berlin’s embassy in Tehran.
“This is exactly the kind of reckless brinkmanship that gets ordinary people killed,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren in a passionate floor speech.
Domestically, Trump’s approval ratings among independents have dipped twelve points since the first strikes began. Polling data from Gallup shows his strongest support among Republicans remains above eighty per cent, suggesting party loyalty is holding despite growing concerns about economic fallout.
The question now isn’t whether Iran will retaliate—it’s how far both sides will go before someone pulls the plug. With Trump boasting about his “biggest, bulkiest” defence budget in history and Tehran’s hardliners demanding revenge for recent casualties, the world watches a man who promised to end endless wars instead dragging us deeper into another one.
“We’re five minutes away from something that could reshape the entire region,” Bolton whispered to Trump during Wednesday’s crisis meeting.
The President just nodded, then picked up his phone to call the Joint Chiefs. History has a way of repeating itself—and right now, it’s typing really fast.