President Donald Trump warned Iran to return to negotiations or face additional military action after U.S. forces launched a new round of strikes against targets inside the Islamic Republic on Wednesday evening, as reported by The New York Post.

According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the latest operation began at approximately 5:15 p.m. ET and was carried out under the direction of the president.

“U.S. Central Command [CENTCOM] forces began launching additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET against multiple targets in Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction,” the Tampa-based command said in a statement posted on X.

“The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.”

U.S. Central Command forces began launching additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET against multiple targets in Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 10, 2026

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

Initial reports did not provide details about specific targets, damage assessments, or casualties. However, President Trump later confirmed that American forces had conducted significant military operations across Iran.

“We’ve hit them hard tonight,” Trump told Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst during the operation.

When asked what would happen if Iran refused to reach an agreement with the United States, Trump responded:

“We’ll bomb the sh*t out of them tomorrow.”

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The president also said he had spoken with senior Iranian officials from the Situation Room and claimed they urged him to halt the bombing campaign.

Trump stated that at least 49 Tomahawk missiles were launched during the strikes, while U.S. fighter aircraft delivered additional munitions against Iranian targets. He said the closest target was roughly 40 miles from Tehran.

Just after 9 p.m. ET, CENTCOM announced the mission had concluded.

The command said it had struck “Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across Iran.”

“US Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets fired precision munitions on Iranian targets that posed a threat to US forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters,” CENTCOM said.

The latest military action followed Iranian attacks against Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, all of which host American military personnel.

The strikes also came one day after an earlier U.S. operation that followed the reported downing of a U.S. Army helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz by an Iranian drone.

Earlier Wednesday, the U.S. military also took action against a vessel accused of transporting fuel from Iran in violation of an American blockade.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesman, said a U.S. aircraft fired “precision munitions” into the engine room of the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Settebello.

The action reportedly disabled the vessel, making it the eighth merchant ship rendered inoperable by U.S. forces in waters near Iran.

India’s foreign ministry reported that three Indian sailors were missing following the incident, while 21 others were rescued. The ministry’s statement did not reference either the U.S. military or the blockade.

Hawkins said American forces issued warnings before firing on the vessel.

Before the evening strikes began, Trump signaled that additional military action was imminent.

“We’re going to hit them again hard today,” the president told reporters at the White House.

He also continued pressing Tehran to agree to a peace arrangement that would include abandoning efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the administration’s position while speaking to reporters in Florida.

“CENTCOM will be busy tonight because President Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard — and we will be,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth added that Iran still had an opportunity to reach an agreement with Washington.

“Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal, to codify what they said they’ve been willing to do, and they haven’t been willing to do it,” he said.

BREAKING: Hegseth announces major strikes on Iran tonight:

"CENTCOM will be busy tonight, we will be hitting Iran hard, we will bomb key facilities in Iran."Announcing the strikes before they happen is itself the strategy.You don't telegraph a bombing campaign hours in… pic.twitter.com/gwKwQjem2R— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 10, 2026

“As President Trump said, they’ve been tap, tap, tapping [the US along on making a deal] … instead, they are going to have tap, tap, tap, bombs dropping on key facilities in Iran from the United States of America.”

Iran responded defiantly. Tehran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, told the U.N. Security Council, “Iran has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit to pressure or question.”

Iran also declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to maritime traffic, including oil tankers and commercial vessels, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.

The report said Tehran warned that “any traffic will be targeted” because of what it described as “continued acts of aggression by the criminal United States.”

Diplomatic efforts remained underway despite the escalation. Following consultations with U.S. officials, a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Wednesday for talks, according to an official familiar with the visit.

A major obstacle remains Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The United States wants Tehran to surrender the material, while Iranian officials continue to insist their nuclear program is peaceful.

Iran has also demanded sanctions relief and access to frozen assets before a final agreement is completed.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations.

“Iran was taking ‘too long to negotiate a deal’ and ‘now they will have to pay the price!!!’” The president wrote.

Iran’s Military is a complete and total mess. Much of it, like their Navy and Air Force, doesn’t even exist anymore - They have been completely defeated. Iran is all talk and no action. The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would… pic.twitter.com/wW9ULVRoMC

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 10, 2026

Iran has also maintained that any agreement ending the conflict must include an end to fighting involving Hezbollah and Israel, while Israel has continued military operations against the Lebanon-based group.

The Hidden Facts Behind Your Healthcare Costs | The Rob Maness Show EP 675

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.