As Warned, U.S. Strikes Iran: "Retaliatory Operation Underway"

[Anchor]

As warned, the United States has launched another strike against Iran. With Iran vowing retaliation, tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.

Reporting from Washington, here is correspondent Jeon Byeong-nam.

[Reporter]

The U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations against Iran, announced that it has struck targets belonging to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Central Command explained that the attack was "a measure taken in response to attempted attacks against civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. forces deployed in the Middle East."

The strikes resumed just two days later, citing Iran's retaliatory attacks.

U.S. President Donald Trump also stated on his social media that "this attack is in retaliation for Iran's failed attempt to add more mines to the Strait of Hormuz," warning that "if Iran strikes back, we will strike again, and Iran will be wiped off the face of the earth."

Iran's state-run broadcaster IRIB reported hearing explosions in Bandar Abbas in southern Iran and Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining a hardline stance in response.

[Voice / Iranian Military Statement (IRIB Broadcast): The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will crush and deal a devastating blow to the cowardly and malicious enemy, the United States.]

In addition, the head of Iran's ceasefire negotiation delegation issued a strong response regarding U.S. economic sanctions.

[Interview / Mohammad Ghalibaf / Head of Iran's Ceasefire Negotiation Delegation: If the enemies attempt to block our oil exports in the Persian Gulf, they must know that no one will be able to export oil from the Persian Gulf.]

Amid rising military tensions centered around Hormuz, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that dependence on Hormuz will drop significantly within the next two years.

He explained that Middle Eastern oil-producing countries will work to expand alternative transportation networks such as pipelines, which appears to reflect the ongoing efforts by major Middle Eastern oil producers like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to accelerate the establishment of alternative routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

Along with this, Secretary Bessent warned of additional sanctions against banks linked to Iran.

(Photo courtesy of Park Eun-ha | Video by Kim Jin-won | Graphics by Shim Soo-hyun)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.