TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – United States (US) President Donald Trump said US military strikes against Iran will continue and intensify unless Tehran agrees to negotiate, as Washington expands its military operations and reimposes a naval blockade on Iranian ports, escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Trump said Washington had held talks with Iran on Tuesday and urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table to end the conflict.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News as cited by DW, Trump warned that future US attacks would target critical Iranian infrastructure if negotiations failed.
"Next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges," Trump said.
"We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate."
Asked how long the military campaign would continue, Trump replied: "They'll continue until I say it's enough."
The remarks came as the United States launched a fourth consecutive day of strikes against Iran, with the US military saying the latest operation was aimed at reducing Tehran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the renewed campaign coincided with the enforcement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports, preventing vessels from traveling to or departing from Iranian coastal areas.
CENTCOM added that more than 20 US Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft are currently deployed across the Middle East.
The US military also accused Iran of attacking commercial shipping in the Gulf.
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said Iranian forces had attacked seven commercial vessels over the past week, leaving nearly a dozen civilian crew members dead, injured, or missing.
Cooper also accused Tehran of launching dozens of missiles and drones toward neighboring Gulf states as the conflict continued to widen.
The regional security situation deteriorated further on Wednesday after several Gulf countries reported Iranian drone activity.
Kuwait's military announced that its air defense systems had intercepted what it described as hostile Iranian drones.
In a statement, the Kuwaiti armed forces said they were responding to "hostile drone attacks following the nefarious Iranian aggression."
Neighboring Bahrain also activated air raid sirens and urged residents to seek shelter.
"The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," Bahrain's Interior Ministry said in a statement posted on X.
According to regional reports, Iranian forces also launched a drone attack targeting a military base in Jordan that hosts US aircraft. Jordan's military said it intercepted four Iranian missiles on Tuesday.
Explosions were also reported overnight in Kuwait City as security forces responded to the heightened threat.
Meanwhile, Iran declared that the renewed US naval blockade had effectively invalidated a Pakistan-brokered agreement previously reached between Washington and Tehran.
DW noted that Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said President Trump's decision to restore the blockade had "dismantled the Islamabad memorandum," adding that Iran no longer considered itself bound by commitments under the agreement.
Gharibabadi also described the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of national security and said Iran would defend its sovereignty over the strategically vital waterway.
The United States first imposed a naval blockade on Iran in April before lifting it in June following the signing of a memorandum of understanding intended to ease tensions. Before reinstating the blockade, Trump had proposed imposing a 20 percent transit fee on ships using the Strait of Hormuz under US military protection, although he later abandoned the idea after objections from Gulf allies.
The latest escalation has heightened concerns over regional stability and the security of one of the world's most important maritime trade routes, through which a significant portion of global oil shipments passes.
Read: Iran Invites President Prabowo to Visit Tehran, MPR Speaker Says
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
US Launches Fresh Iran Strikes as Naval Blockade Takes Effect
27 menit lalu
The US launched another round of military strikes against Iran on Tuesday, escalating conflict just hours before a renewed US naval blockade.
Iran Invites President Prabowo to Visit Tehran, MPR Speaker Says
17 jam lalu
Iran has invited President Prabowo Subianto to visit Tehran after Indonesian officials attended the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
US Launches New Wave of Military Strikes Against Iran
18 jam lalu
US and Iran traded new attacks as CENTCOM launched strikes on Iranian sites, escalating tensions over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran: Living in Limbo Between War and Ceasefire
18 jam lalu
Repeated ceasefire violations, mixed political signals and emergency measures have fueled exhaustion, anger and deep uncertainty among Iranians.
Saudi Ambassador Assures Country Safe for Hajj Pilgrims Amid US-Iran Tensions
1 hari lalu
Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia emphasized that Saudi Arabia remains safe for Indonesians planning to perform the Umrah or Hajj pilgrimage.
Top 5 Biggest Controversies of the 2026 World Cup
1 hari lalu
The 2026 World Cup has been overshadowed by a series of controversial incidents involving officiating, disciplinary decisions, and VAR.
Iran Defends Military Strikes as Legitimate Self-Defense
1 hari lalu
Iran says its military action was legitimate self-defense against ongoing U.S. and Israeli military aggression.
Oil Prices Rise as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Slows
1 hari lalu
The latest attack between the U.S. and Iran slowed down shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and raised global oil prices.
Iran Strikes US Military Bases in Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain
1 hari lalu
Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks on several United States (US) military facilities in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain in response to US attack
Today's Top 3 News: Lawmakers Seek Death Penalty for Febrie Adriansyah in Corruption Cases
2 hari lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
