WASHINGTON, July 9, (v7n)– US President Donald Trump ordered new military strikes on Iran on Wednesday and warned of "much worse" if Tehran continues attacking vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil shipments.

Iranian state media reported explosions along the southern coast after US Central Command announced a fresh wave of strikes. Warplanes were heard over Kish Island, and explosions rocked the port cities of Bandar Abbas, Konarak, and Chabahar—parts of which lost electricity, according to IRNA.

"This is in retribution for yesterday's bombing of ships by Iran," Trump posted on Truth Social. "If it happens again, it will get much worse!" While ordering retaliation, Trump earlier expressed hope the latest flare-up would end quickly and left the door open for further talks.

CENTCOM said the strikes aimed to degrade Iran's ability "to threaten freedom of navigation" in the strait, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and LNG normally flows. "The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping," CENTCOM said on X.

Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iran's supreme leader, warned on X: "The aggressor enemy and its accomplices will be severely punished."

Before ordering the latest strikes, Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran was over, prompting mediators Pakistan and Qatar—along with the UN—to call for de-escalation. Later, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Iran had "called a little while ago" and wanted "to make a deal so badly," though he offered no details and called the Iranians "sort of crazy."

The strikes come a day before the burial of Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed at the war's outbreak on February 28. Tehran has insisted on controlling the strait, demanding fees for passage and threatening vessels that deviate from authorised routes. Iran struck at least three ships recently, prompting US strikes on Tuesday and retaliatory Iranian attacks on Gulf countries.

"We're gonna hit 'em hard tonight," Trump said at a NATO summit in Ankara. "They violate the agreement every day." He later added that "anything that happens is going to be over very quickly." Oil prices jumped eight percent after Trump's earlier comments.

UN chief Antonio Guterres called on "all parties to exercise maximum restraint," echoing Pakistan's appeal. Iran and Qatar's foreign ministers discussed using diplomatic means to resolve issues.

CENTCOM said it struck over 80 targets on Tuesday, including air-defence systems, coastal radar, and 60 IRGC small boats. The Guards claimed they hit dozens of US facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. Kuwait intercepted two ballistic missiles and 13 drones, while Iran also attacked US forces at Bahrain's Sheikh Isa air base—causing no American casualties or major damage, a US official said.

Oman condemned the targeting of Bahrain and Kuwait but did not blame Iran, maintaining neutrality amid talks over Hormuz administration. Washington insists on free passage, while Iran demands fees and opposes vessels using Omani waters. Despite a recent US-Iran deal, maritime traffic remains tentative, with nearly 6,000 seafarers still stranded, said IMO chief Arsenio Dominguez.

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