WASHINGTON (TNND) — The United States and Iran are trading fire again after weeks of relative calm, as renewed fighting puts the Strait of Hormuz back at the center of the conflict and new reporting raises questions about Russia’s military support for Tehran.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against U.S. positions and American allies across the region. (TNND)
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. forces “hit them hard” in the latest round of attacks, saying Iran had been attempting to rebuild radar and missile systems damaged during earlier fighting.
U.S. Central Command released video Wednesday of strikes carried out this week against Iranian military infrastructure, including air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against U.S. positions and American allies across the region.
The renewed military confrontation follows a quieter period in which the Trump administration increasingly focused on economic pressure. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently vowed to “sever every tie” Iran has to the outside world as part of an effort to further isolate Tehran economically.
CENTCOM said the latest U.S. strikes followed recent attempts by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to target commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and American service members.
The renewed fighting is again drawing attention to the strategically critical waterway. Trump has insisted the strait is under “U.S.A. control” and has even proposed renaming it the “Trump Strait.”
Iran, meanwhile, is threatening retaliation. An Iranian parliamentary official warned continued U.S. naval pressure would bring a “crushing” response.
The escalation comes as Iran’s relationship with Russia appears to be deepening.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, telling him, according to a Kremlin transcript, that Moscow was working to provide Iran with “necessary assistance.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the potential impact of that support Wednesday.
“Nothing that anyone is providing Iran is impeding our ability to act as necessary to protect the United States,” Rubio said, adding that Putin has “his own set of problems.”
Putin did not specify what assistance Russia is providing.
But a new Financial Times investigation reports Moscow has secretly helped Iran develop supersonic cruise-missile technology since 2023. The report says Russian specialists have assisted Iran with technology that could eventually be incorporated into anti-ship missiles capable of threatening U.S. aircraft carriers and other warships.
The report adds a new dimension to concerns about growing military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran as the United States and Iran enter another period of direct confrontation.