From June 10 to 11, 2026, the military confrontation between the United States and Iran escalated sharply, with the two sides engaging in the most intense round of direct combat in recent years in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. According to multiple international media reports, under the direct order of President Trump, the US military launched a new round of large-scale strikes against targets inside and around Iran, while Iran retaliated with strong measures such as closing the Strait of Hormuz and attacking US military bases. This series of events marked the breakdown of months of diplomatic efforts, plunging the regional security situation into a state of high tension.

US military launches new strikes: using "self-defense" as a pretext for coercive diplomacy.

According to the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. military launched a new round of attacks against Iran on Wednesday (early Thursday morning, June 11 Beijing time), targeting multiple air defense systems and radar stations near the Strait of Hormuz . The Pentagon characterized the operation as "coercive diplomacy," intending to force Tehran to make substantial concessions at the negotiating table through military pressure.

During a visit to Central Command headquarters in Tampa, U.S. Defense Secretary Peter Hegsays delivered a strongly worded speech, stating bluntly, "If we need to negotiate with bombs, then we'll negotiate with bombs. We're experts at it, no one can beat us." U.S. Central Command referred to these strikes as "additional defensive strikes" in response to what Iran described as "unprovoked and persistent attacks."

In fact, this was not the first exchange of fire between the two sides this week. Previously, an Iranian drone shot down a U.S. Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. In retaliation, the U.S. military launched three rounds of attacks on Iranian radar stations, air defense systems, and ground control stations on Tuesday. Although President Trump has repeatedly stated publicly that a deal with Iran is "within reach," the White House has clearly returned to a posture of preparedness after months of diplomatic attempts failed to achieve a lasting solution.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump lashed out at Tehran for refusing to accept U.S. demands, accusing Iran of "drag us along and making us look like fools," and emphasizing that the U.S. needs a "meaningful and effective deal." Although Tehran has expressed interest in reaching a nuclear agreement with Washington, there are currently no public indications that the two sides are about to sign one.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military announced on the social media platform X that it had fired a precision-guided weapon at the engine room of an oil tanker anchored in the Gulf of Oman, rendering the vessel inoperable, because the crew failed to comply with U.S. military orders. This action further highlights the U.S. military's assertive posture in the region.

Iran retaliates forcefully: closes the Strait of Hormuz and attacks US military bases.

In response to the continued attacks by the US military, Iran quickly issued a strong statement. According to a statement released earlier on June 11 by Iran's Supreme Joint Military Command, the Strait of Hormuz has been officially closed, and all vessels, including oil tankers and merchant ships, are prohibited from passing through. The command explicitly warned that any ship attempting to pass through the strait will be a target of attack. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial chokepoint for global oil transport, and this blockade immediately sparked serious concerns in the international community about energy supply security.

Iranian state media also reported that US ships near the Strait of Hormuz were attacked by missiles and drones launched by the Iranian armed forces . Iran's Supreme Joint Military Command further stated that the armed forces would respond "devastatingly and decisively" to any "aggression and misconduct" by the US military in the region. Subsequently, the public relations department of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement claiming that the Revolutionary Guard had "hit and destroyed" 18 key US targets in the Middle East in two waves of operations.

In addition, according to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain was targeted. Iran claimed that they used drones to attack the Fifth Fleet's Patriot missile system, particularly its communication antennas and radar facilities. Meanwhile, multiple explosions were also heard at US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Explosions were also heard in the early hours of the morning in Waramin district of Tehran province and Karaj, the capital of Alborz province, although there has been no official response yet.

IV. Trump's Tough Stance and Iran's Denial During the conflict, US President Trump frequently made public statements, releasing a series of highly impactful remarks. According to Fox News, Trump stated that US warplanes were conducting missions over Iran and that the US had launched 49 Tomahawk missiles. He specifically emphasized that Israel was not involved in the attack. Trump also revealed that he had held direct talks with Iranian officials and claimed that Iran had requested the US to cease bombing, and that the bombing operation would end soon. However, he remained open to the possibility of further strikes in the future.

In response to media questions, Trump issued an extreme threat: "If Iran doesn't sign the agreement, we'll bomb them to pieces tomorrow night. This is the most serious violation of a ceasefire agreement in world history." He also described the US military strike as "fierce and brutal," claiming that Iran had no idea what had attacked them.

However, Iran quickly refuted Trump's claims. According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, a senior Iranian official stated unequivocally that Trump's remarks about speaking with Iranian officials were pure fabrication. Iran has not had any contact with Trump and has emphasized its military response to any acts of aggression. Iran believes that Trump's "false claims" are "a cover to avoid war with Iran."

Information warfare and public opinion confrontation: Is the Taiwan Strait closed or not?

Beyond the military conflict, a fierce information war has also unfolded between the two sides. The U.S. Central Command issued a statement saying that the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' claim that the Strait of Hormuz was closed was incorrect, and that merchant ships were still continuing to enter and exit the strait. However, Iran refuted this through the Mehr News Agency, stating that according to satellite imagery, no vessels were actually passing through the Strait of Hormuz after threats were issued by the Revolutionary Guard Navy. Iran sarcastically remarked that the U.S. Central Command was "writing its statements with wishes." Currently, both sides offer conflicting accounts, making it difficult for outside observers to independently verify the facts.

Situation Outlook: The fighting has temporarily subsided, but the crisis is far from over.

The US military subsequently announced that it had completed its latest strike operation in Iran. However, Iran has made it clear that it will respond militarily to the aggression. Trump claimed that Iran requested a ceasefire, but this was denied by Iran; his threats of further strikes have also made the future situation uncertain. Thus, the US and Iran are temporarily at a stalemate after a round of intense fighting, but any miscalculation by either side could trigger a larger-scale conflict. The international community is closely watching how this crisis will unfold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Why is the United States launching a new round of attacks on Iran at this time?

A: The official reason given by the US is "self-defense," in response to the "unprovoked attack" by an Iranian drone that previously shot down a US Apache helicopter. The deeper background is that after months of diplomatic efforts, the US and Iran failed to reach a lasting agreement on the nuclear issue. The Trump administration turned to "coercive diplomacy," attempting to force Iran to accept US conditions at the negotiating table through military strikes. The Pentagon explicitly described this operation as a negotiation tactic using bombs as a tool.

Question 2: What consequences would Iran have if it closed the Strait of Hormuz?

A: The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil shipping route, with large quantities of crude oil and liquefied natural gas passing through it daily. After Iran announced the closure of the strait, all vessels, including oil tankers and merchant ships, were prohibited from passing, and violators would become targets of attack. This will directly impact global energy supplies, drive up international oil prices, and may trigger strategic intervention from major consuming countries. However, the US military denies that the strait is closed, claiming that merchant ships are still passing through, creating a serious contradiction between the two sides' statements.

Question 3: Why did Iran deny Trump's claim of having a direct conversation with Iranian officials?

A: In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that he had spoken directly with Iranian officials and that Iran had requested a ceasefire. However, Iran's Tasnim News Agency, citing a senior Iranian official, called this claim "pure fabrication." Iran emphasized that it had not had any contact with Trump and believed that Trump's remarks were a publicity stunt to cover up his military actions. This kind of Rashomon-like disagreement is not uncommon in the US-Iran confrontation and is often seen as part of psychological and information warfare.

Question 4: What specific targets did the US military strike in this conflict?

A: According to existing reports, the US military's targets mainly fell into two categories: the first was Iranian air defense systems and radar stations near the Strait of Hormuz, which was seen as a key step in suppressing Iran's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities; the second was the engine room of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, due to crew members' failure to comply with US military instructions. In addition, Trump mentioned that the US military launched 49 Tomahawk missiles, and that fighter jets were conducting missions over Iran. Iran, on the other hand, claimed that it destroyed 18 US targets, including Patriot missile systems of Bahrain's Fifth Fleet.

Question 5: Has the conflict ended? How might it develop in the future?

A: The US military has announced the completion of its latest strike operation, and Trump has claimed the bombing will soon end. However, Iran has vowed a military response to the aggression and denied ever requesting a ceasefire. Trump has also opened the door to further strikes and threatened to "bomb Iran to smithereens" if it does not sign an agreement. Therefore, although this round of intense fighting has temporarily subsided, both sides remain highly hostile. Further action by either side—whether a retaliatory attack from Iran or additional strikes by the US military—could quickly trigger a new escalation of the conflict.