[Anchor]

The U.S. military has continued its airstrikes against Iran for the second consecutive day. Iran has also launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. military bases in neighboring countries. While President Trump warned against the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, he drew a line, stating that this would not lead to the end of the ceasefire or the resumption of full-scale war.

Reporter Yu Deok-gi has the story.

[Reporter]

The U.S. military has continued its airstrikes against Iran for the second consecutive day.

The U.S. Central Command announced that as of July 8, local time, it had completed airstrikes on approximately 90 targets, including Iran's air defense systems, coastal surveillance facilities, and missile and drone storage sites.

President Trump stated that the strikes were in retaliation for attacks on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and warned that if Iran attacks U.S. forces, the U.S. will retaliate with overwhelming force.

[Donald Trump/President of the United States: This is retaliation for (the previous merchant ship attacks). Iran actually attacked three ships, not two. Every time Iran attacks us, we will strike them with 20 times the force.]

President Trump, who had previously signaled additional airstrikes, warned that the Strait of Hormuz could be blockaded again.

At the same time, he drew a line, asserting that the military exchange with Iran would not lead to the end of the ceasefire or the resumption of full-scale war.

[Donald Trump/President of the United States: I don't think (the war) will restart. I believe it will end very quickly. Oil supplies will become very free and smooth, and everything will happen very fast.]

Iranian media reported that several powerful explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Konarak in southern Iran, and that a railway bridge in northeastern Iran was also hit by U.S. attacks.

Iran immediately launched retaliatory actions.

Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar were targeted by missiles and drones, though no specific damage from these strikes has been reported yet.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and head of the negotiation team with the U.S., warned the U.S., stating that threats and breaking promises would not come for free, and that if they attack, they will certainly be attacked in return.

Iran released footage of the office of the late Supreme Leader Khamenei, who died immediately after U.S. airstrikes on the first day of the war last February, demonstrating hostility toward the U.S. both domestically and internationally.

(Video Editing: Park Chun-bae)