Trump Orders Iranian Strikes as Tehran Retaliates Across Gulf

The United States has executed seven consecutive nights of airstrikes against Iranian surveillance sites, logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities, including a desalination plant in Jask. President Donald Trump has signaled a further escalation, threatening to bomb Iranian power plants, bridges, and nuclear facilities—specifically the underground site at Mount Pickaxe—unless Iran returns to negotiations. He is also weighing the seizure of Kharg Island and other strategic Iranian territories.

Iran has responded with ballistic missiles and drones targeting U.S. bases and regional allies. Strikes hit a desalination plant and international airport in Kuwait, as well as the Sheikh Isa Air Base and an intelligence data center in Bahrain. In Jordan, Iranian missiles killed two U.S. service members, though Jordanian authorities intercepted several others. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has declared a previous memorandum of understanding with Washington worthless, while Iranian officials warned of a shift to total destruction if attacks continue.

To support these operations, the U.S. deployed dozens of aerial refueling tankers and F-16 fighter jets to Jordan and Israel. This buildup caused brief political friction in Israel between Transport Minister Miri Regev and U.S. officials over congestion at Ben Gurion International Airport, a dispute resolved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who moved the assets to Israeli Air Force bases. Meanwhile, the conflict has severely disrupted global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which dropped from 9.4 million to approximately 5.5 million barrels per day.