President Donald Trump warned Iran it could “no longer exist” if the US is forced to resume full-scale military action, while Tehran vowed retaliation against American bases.
BY PC Bureau
June 28, 2026: The United States launched a second consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets on Saturday after Tehran allegedly attacked another oil tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, sharply escalating tensions and placing the already fragile ceasefire under renewed strain.
According to US officials, Iran targeted the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku, which was carrying nearly two million barrels of crude oil, while it was sailing through the strategic waterway. The vessel sustained damage, but all crew members were reported safe.
In response, the US military carried out strikes on 10 Iranian military sites, targeting surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence positions, drone storage facilities and minelayer capabilities. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation was conducted in retaliation for what it described as Iran’s drone attack on the tanker.
CENTCOM also released a 38-second video of the operation on X, showing US Navy and Air Force fighter jets striking multiple targets in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The command said Iran had been given “a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement” following Friday’s US strikes but instead “elected not to” after launching a one-way attack drone that struck M/T Kiku. A day earlier, the US had targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, along with coastal radar installations, after accusing Tehran of attacking another commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the latest military escalation, CENTCOM said commercial shipping continues to transit the vital waterway and stressed that US forces remain “vigilant, lethal and ready.”
🚨 BREAKING:
🇺🇸🇮🇷 U.S. Navy and Air Force fighter jets struck 10 Iranian military targets tonight in and near the Strait of Hormuz.
This is retaliation for Iran’s drone attack on the tanker M/T Kiku.
Writer: Sol
— 4ம் பாண்டிய பேரரசு மன்னன் RamkumarPeriyasamy Nadar (@pramk2) June 28, 2026
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Trump’s warning
US President Donald Trump warned Iran that it would “no longer exist” if Washington is forced to resume full-scale military operations, saying Tehran had once again violated the ceasefire.
“It is very possible that they will never learn,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after confirming the latest US strikes. He added that while the US had shown restraint, there could come a point when it would be “forced to militarily complete the job,” warning that if such a scenario unfolded, “the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist.”
Iran’s “hell” warning
Iran responded with fresh threats, warning that US military bases across the Gulf region would “experience hell” in the coming days.
The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said US strikes near Sirik on the Strait of Hormuz would not alter Iran’s control over the strategic waterway. He said Iran’s attacks on vessels violating its terms of passage served as a warning to others, adding that “the reckoning for American bases in the region is a separate matter.”
A tanker reported being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Iran each launched strikes in the worst escalation since they signed an interim peace deal https://t.co/n4hajCOWyu pic.twitter.com/Do7KYroGaB
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 27, 2026
Middle East tensions rise again
The latest exchange has reignited fears of a wider regional conflict. Iran claimed it launched retaliatory strikes against US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain following the American attacks.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had destroyed key US military installations at Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, warning that any future aggression would invite a “crushing response.”
Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti Army said its air defence systems were intercepting hostile missiles and drones, urging residents to remain calm. Air raid sirens were also activated in parts of Kuwait and Bahrain, with authorities advising people to move to the nearest safe location as a precaution.
