The United States launched a fresh round of military strikes against Iran on Sunday, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) saying the operation was aimed at further weakening Tehran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest strikes came amid heightened tensions in the Gulf after the US military hit approximately 140 Iranian military targets in an earlier round of attacks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that a return to full-scale hostilities could have “catastrophic consequences” and urged Washington and Tehran to resume negotiations.

CENTCOM Says Fresh Strikes Target Iran’s Ability To Attack Ships

CENTCOM said the latest military operation began at 5 pm ET on Sunday on the directions of the US Commander in Chief.

“At 5 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching more strikes against Iran to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.

According to Iran’s Press TV, three explosions were heard in the southern Iranian cities of Jask, Bandar Abbas and Sirik following the US operation.

The latest military action followed multiple rounds of US strikes against Iranian targets amid continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

US Hit Around 140 Iranian Military Targets In Earlier Strikes

CENTCOM said it had completed a third round of strikes against Iran on Saturday, targeting Iranian forces after another commercial vessel was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.

US forces struck approximately 140 Iranian military targets using precision munitions launched from land- and sea-based fighter aircraft, drones and naval vessels.

The targets included Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks and coastal surveillance locations.

CENTCOM said the operation was intended to hold Iranian forces accountable for attacks on commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

UN Chief Warns Of Catastrophic Consequences

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the renewed military confrontation involving Iran and the United States and called for an immediate end to the attacks.

“I am deeply concerned by the serious escalation and renewed military confrontations in the Gulf, including the Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the attacks by the US on Iran, and the attacks by Iran on targets in the neighbouring countries. These attacks must all stop,” Guterres said in a post on X.

The UN chief warned that a return to full-scale fighting would have “catastrophic consequences” for people in the region, international peace and security and the global economy.

Guterres urged Washington and Tehran to resolve their outstanding disputes through negotiations.

“I urge Iran and the US to urgently resume negotiations and to address outstanding issues through diplomacy,” he said.

Trump Says Strait Of Hormuz Remains Open

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remained open to commercial traffic and rejected Iranian claims of control over the strategic waterway.

Speaking in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump said the United States had responded to renewed Iranian attacks with significant military force.

“It’s open,” Trump said when asked about the status of the Strait of Hormuz.

“We bombed the hell out of them last night,” he added.

Trump also indicated that recent diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran had collapsed following an alleged Iranian attack on a commercial vessel.

The latest round of US strikes and continued tensions over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have increased concerns about a wider conflict, even as the UN called for an immediate halt to attacks and a return to diplomacy.

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