Trump warns Iran after US strikes on Hormuz shipping

President Donald Trump warned Iran on Wednesday that U.S. military action would intensify if Tehran continued to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, hours after American forces carried out a new round of strikes on Iranian targets. The escalation marks a significant breakdown of an interim ceasefire agreement and has sent oil prices surging amid fears for the stability of a critical global energy corridor.

The U.S. strikes, which targeted sites in southern Iran including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Bushehr, were described by U.S. Central Command as retaliation for Iranian attacks on three cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The command stated the operation aimed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.

In a social media post announcing the action, Trump wrote that it was "in retribution for yesterday's bombing of ships by Iran." He added a stark warning: "If it happens again, it will get much worse!" Speaking to reporters later, the president elaborated, stating the U.S. response would be disproportionate. "We hit them...