Trump weighs fresh Iran strikes as Hormuz tensions rise after truce collapse

The White House has signalled that President Donald Trump is considering fresh strikes on Iran as Washington presses Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and follow the terms of a truce agreement forged last month that then quickly collapsed.

There were no US strikes on Iran overnight. But Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said on Friday that it had struck two more tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, while Kuwait said it intercepted drones. In a separate development, Hamas said it would disarm in what could be a breakthrough in efforts to end the war in Gaza, though major obstacles remain.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt renewed the administration's criticism of Tehran, saying Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding with the US on a truce last month but then quickly "broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers".

"President Trump is not going to stand by and allow this terrorist behaviour to occur," Leavitt said in a statement on Friday evening. "Iran will continue to pay until they come to the table in, what President Trump deems, a meaningful way."

The warning came after Trump told reporters earlier on Friday that "we just want to win" in Iran and indicated that US military action could continue for some time. Speaking during a meeting with members of his Cabinet at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, Trump said, "We'll be hitting them very hard. You know, at some point they're going to say, 'We just can't take it anymore.'"

In sum, the US has kept up pressure on Iran after the collapse of last month's truce, even as there were no overnight American strikes, reports of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz continued, and Hamas announced it would disarm amid ongoing efforts to end the war in Gaza.

With PTI Inputs

The White House has signalled that President Donald Trump is considering fresh strikes on Iran as Washington presses Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and follow the terms of a truce agreement forged last month that then quickly collapsed.

There were no US strikes on Iran overnight. But Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said on Friday that it had struck two more tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, while Kuwait said it intercepted drones. In a separate development, Hamas said it would disarm in what could be a breakthrough in efforts to end the war in Gaza, though major obstacles remain.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt renewed the administration's criticism of Tehran, saying Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding with the US on a truce last month but then quickly "broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers".

"President Trump is not going to stand by and allow this terrorist behaviour to occur," Leavitt said in a statement on Friday evening. "Iran will continue to pay until they come to the table in, what President Trump deems, a meaningful way."

The warning came after Trump told reporters earlier on Friday that "we just want to win" in Iran and indicated that US military action could continue for some time. Speaking during a meeting with members of his Cabinet at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, Trump said, "We'll be hitting them very hard. You know, at some point they're going to say, 'We just can't take it anymore.'"

In sum, the US has kept up pressure on Iran after the collapse of last month's truce, even as there were no overnight American strikes, reports of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz continued, and Hamas announced it would disarm amid ongoing efforts to end the war in Gaza.

With PTI Inputs