The United States launched a second round of airstrikes on Iran into Thursday morning after President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would “pay the price” for stalled negotiations, and Iran responded with strikes on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, targeting US military assets. 

The new U.S. assault across multiple Iranian cities came as efforts to negotiate an end the war again appeared stuck, with Iran insisting it would maintain its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted global energy supplies and sent oil prices higher, The Associated Press reported. 

It was the third time this week that back-and-forth strikes have tested a two-month shaky ceasefire, according to AP.

Trump has urged Iran to sign a deal to end the war and suggested earlier this week that an agreement could be reached in days.

The U.S. Central Command said it had “completed” its latest round of airstrikes just before sunrise in Iran. The military command said the strikes came “in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression” and targeted “Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defense sites.” It did not elaborate on the damage done by the strikes, which it said were carried out by the U.S. Air Force, Marines and Navy.

Explosions from the strikes echoed around Iran’s capital, Tehran, as well as the port city of Bandar Abbas and other southern areas along the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran responded by launching strikes on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, and Kuwait closed its airspace as its air defenses fought off the attack. Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said flights were being diverted to other airports, without elaborating.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has released a statement saying it has hit a U.S. air base in Jordan with missiles.

Kuwait International Airport took a direct Iranian hit in recent days, killing one person and wounding dozens. On Wednesday, Iran responded to U.S. strikes with attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, all of which host U.S. troops.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to halt hostilities and work towards a diplomatic settlement after the US and Iran exchanged strikes across the region for a second consecutive day, further straining an already fragile ceasefire.

“The Middle East is being pulled deeper into crisis & the consequences reach far beyond the region. This week has brought wider attacks and further deterioration where the ceasefire is more like a lesser-fire. We should not minimize the risks of lesser fire becoming full fire. All parties must work towards a diplomatic settlement. No more attacks. No more excuses,” Guterres said in a post on X.

The US strikes came hours after President Donald Trump vowed that US forces would hit Iran “hard” and said that Tehran had taken “too long to make a deal” to permanently end the war.

In response, Iran launched a round of strikes targeting US military assets in countries across the region.

Saudi Arabia has lifted a roughly five-year ban on imports from Lebanon in a show of support for Beirut’s embattled government ‌that may also offer relief to businesses battered by years of conflict between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel, Reuters reported.

Reuters cited Saudi state media as saying that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered on Wednesday the resumption of Lebanese exports to the kingdom in light of what he called “positive steps” taken by the Lebanese government toward rebuilding state institutions. 

According to the report, the decision came at the request of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, both of whom took office in ⁠January 2025 with Saudi backing but have struggled to assert state control amid ongoing fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.

Both leaders quickly issued statements thanking the crown prince, with Aoun saying the move “will contribute significantly to the revival of the national economy and support a wide range of Lebanese producers and exporters.”

The 2021 ban – initially on imports of agricultural products but then extended to all goods – was linked to smuggling of the methamphetamine-like drug Captagon, produced in Lebanon and Syria and stashed in shipments of food, furniture and other products, according to Reuters.

That put further pressure on Lebanon’s crumbling economy, already crushed by a 2019 financial crisis, with agricultural exports in particular stranded from traditional Gulf Arab markets. Lebanese exports to Saudi Arabia were worth about $240 million in 2020.

Western and ‌Arab states ⁠have long said former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s government and Hezbollah were behind the illicit production and trade in the drug.

Hezbollah has denied involvement. Assad’s government collapsed under a rebel offensive in December 2024, after which huge drug factories were found in government-held areas of Syria and the border region where Hezbollah had a strong presence.

Ties between Riyadh and Beirut have been strained for years due to the power ⁠of Iran-backed Hezbollah over Lebanese affairs.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani underscored the importance of the swift restoration of safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during talks held in Moscow on June 11.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as cited by RIA Novosti, the issue was among the topics discussed during the meeting.

“The heads of the foreign policy agencies emphasized the importance of the prompt restoration of stable, unhindered and secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is of vital importance to the global economy,” the ministry said in a statement.

The two sides also exchanged views on Russia’s updated concept for ensuring collective security in the Gulf region.

Israeli troops have established operational control and carried out a clearance operation in southern Lebanon.

The announcement was made by the press service of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

“Israel Defense Forces soldiers have completed an operation to establish operational control and clear the area along the defensive line north of the Saluki River in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement.

The IDF press service stated that the operation was conducted as part of efforts to strengthen positions in southern Lebanon and eliminate what it described as a direct threat to communities in northern Israel.

According to the Israeli military, the area around the Saluki River had been used by Hezbollah to launch explosive-laden drones and carry out attacks against Israeli troops operating in the area.

“During the operation, ground forces, in coordination with the Israeli Air Force, destroyed hundreds of terrorist targets and killed more than 50 terrorists,” the statement said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the Civil Contract party’s victory in the June 7 parliamentary elections, the Prime Minister’s Office reported. 

“On behalf of my people and in my personal capacity, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on the success achieved by the Civil Contract party led by you in the parliamentary elections held in the Republic of Armenia on June 7, 2026, and I wish you success in forming a government for the third time.

I am fully convinced that your strategic vision regarding the establishment of long-term peace and stability in the region, as well as ensuring the necessary cooperation in that direction, will be successfully brought to completion.

Taking this opportunity, I once again wish you health and well-being, and the people of Armenia prosperity and happiness.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi sent a congratulatory message to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, on the occasion of his party’s victory in the recent parliamentary elections.

“Prime Minister Al-Zaidi reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to building a broad partnership with Armenia in a manner that advances progress and prosperity for both sides, highlighting the importance of addressing shared challenges and enhancing coordination across economic and development fields,” the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his Civil Contract party’s victory in the June 7 parliamentary elections.

“Your re-election reflects the belief and trust of the people of the Republic of Armenia in your leadership and your vision of a peaceful and progressive nation,” Sharif said in a letter addressed to Pashinyan, according to his office.

“I look forward to working with Your Excellency to strengthen Pakistan–Armenia relations, and I wish to emphasize that Pakistan attaches great importance to peace and constructive cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

We hope that your new term in office will contribute to the advancement of peace, stability, and economic development in the South Caucasus.

I wish you continued health and well-being, as well as progress and prosperity for the friendly people of Armenia.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that major changes are not expected in the composition of his new Cabinet, which will be formed following the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, in which his Civil Contract party won a majority of seats in parliament.

“There will be no major changes,” Pashinyan said at a press briefing when asked by a journalist whether the new government lineup had already been decided and whether dismissals or changes in the Cabinet were expected.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday said that one of the priority issues requiring urgent solutions in Armenia’s aviation sector is the expansion of Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport.

“Zvartnots Airport must be expanded as quickly as possible,” the Prime Minister told members of his Cabinet, citing the need to increase capacity to accommodate growing traffic.

He also highlighted the importance of implementing international standard reforms and continuously updating them.

Pashinyan also spoke about the work that needs to be carried out to redesignate Syunik Airport in Kapan as an international airport.

He further stressed the importance of implementing necessary measures for the future development of Shirak Airport in Gyumri.