🚨 HEGSETH WARNS OF CONTINUED U.S. STRIKES ON IRAN AS WASHINGTON WEIGHS SHORT-DURATION MILITARY OPERATION AND GULF ACTIVITY INTENSIFIES
‼️ HEGSETH SIGNALS FURTHER STRIKES AGAINST IRAN: US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and warned that additional strikes against Iran could continue in the coming days.
Hegseth stated: "If we need to negotiate with bombs, we'll negotiate with bombs. We are very good at it. Nobody is better in the world."
He added: "President Trump is a dealmaker, the best in the world. He's prepared to make that deal. Iran would be wise to take it. Otherwise, they would have to deal with the types of plans I just had a chance to see inside CENTCOM."
Hegseth later told reporters that strikes tonight in Iran would be "strong and clear," and indicated operations could continue day by day if necessary, while saying Iran would have opportunities to make a deal at every stage.
♟️ TRUMP HOLDS SITUATION ROOM DISCUSSIONS ON NEW STRIKES: President Trump held Situation Room meetings Wednesday morning and afternoon to discuss possible additional military action against Iran.
According to Axios, one option under consideration is a large-scale but limited-duration operation intended to increase pressure on Tehran during ongoing negotiations.
Sources said the objective would be to push Iran to change its negotiating position while limiting the duration of direct military operations.
💥 REPORTS OF ACTIVE STRIKES AND AIR DEFENSES IN SOUTHERN IRAN: Iranian media reported that air defenses became active in Fars Province, with residents in Mohr City reporting explosion-like sounds. The cause was not confirmed.
Senior US officials cited by Barak Ravid reported that ongoing strikes are targeting sites in southern Iran, including air defense systems, radar networks, and drone command-and-control units.
Mehr News reported explosion-like sounds across Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Minab, Sirik, and Hengam Island in southern Iran, alongside claims of possible maritime clashes involving Iranian and US forces.
Mehr News also reported that Iranian air defenses tracked and destroyed a cruise missile over Asaluyeh.
✈️ HEAVY US AIR ACTIVITY REPORTED OVER THE GULF: Flight monitoring accounts reported heavy American aerial tanker activity over the Gulf, with multiple refueling aircraft reportedly launching from Israel.
The activity followed President Trump’s earlier statement that Iran would be hit hard again today.
Iranian media also reported claims that US ships were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, though no confirmation was provided.
❗️ REPORTS OF ATTACKS ON US-RELATED TARGETS IN IRAQ: Unconfirmed reports circulated that IRGC artillery or missile strikes targeted a US radar site in Erbil, Iraq.
⚠️ IRAN WARNS NEGOTIATIONS COULD COLLAPSE AFTER STRIKES: Al Arabiya, citing a Pakistani source, reported that Iran and the United States remain far apart on a peace agreement and that no breakthrough was expected Wednesday.
Iranian sources told Al-Jazeera: "Any attack will lead to the end of the negotiations".
The Iranian Armed Forces announced they would issue a statement following what they described as “the US crime and the breach of the ceasefire.”
An Iranian military source cited by IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News warned that any additional US action would trigger further Iranian retaliation.
The source stated: “Last night, we proved to the Americans that any new adventurism and foolishness will be met with an immediate response from Iran.”
The source added: “The Iranian armed forces are fully prepared tonight as well, and if the Americans take any aggressive action, they will once again face heavy responses. Iran will target new targets of the interests of this terrorist regime.”
The source further stated: “The Americans’ idea of ‘controlled escalation’ and taking the initiative is foolish, and Iran will not hesitate to dictate new calculations to the Americans.”
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