The US has launched a fresh wave of attacks on Iran, hitting more than 90 targets across the country, as Donald Trump warns the conflict could escalate further amid renewed Strait of Hormuz tensionsPaige Ingram, Rob Freeman Nick Lester, Nina Lloyd and Sophie Wingate and Press Association06:13, 09 Jul 2026US forces reported striking approximately 90 targets across Iran, with President Donald Trump cautioning that the conflict could "get much worse".‌Iran hit back following a second consecutive day of renewed assaults by targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in the early hours of Thursday. US Central Command stated the strikes were intended to undermine Iran's capacity "to threaten freedom of navigation" through the Strait of Hormuz.‌Fresh hostilities erupted on Tuesday after Iran targeted three tankers in the crucial waterway, which remains a flashpoint in the fragile truce.‌"U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared to execute operations directed by the Commander in Chief," the statement from Central Command said.Officials confirmed the targets comprised more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard small boats. Iranian state media reported explosions in Bushehr, home to the country's nuclear power plant complex, and the southern ports of Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Abbas and Sirik.‌Reports also indicated that a railway bridge in Golestan province had been struck, while the Revolutionary Guard confirmed two bridges had been attacked. Bahrain – which houses the US Navy's 5th Fleet – along with Kuwait and Qatar, all sounded sirens in the early hours of Thursday amid retaliatory Iranian fire. Kuwait confirmed it was intercepting drones and missiles.Mr Trump also reshared on his Truth Social platform an image of buildings ablaze emitting thick black smoke, allegedly in Iran, accompanied by the message: "This is retribution for yesterday's bombing of ships. If it happens again, it will get much worse."The latest exchange of hostilities threatens to once again disrupt shipping passing through the Gulf channel and create difficulties in securing a permanent conclusion to the conflict, initiated by the US and Israel on February 28.‌Asked earlier regarding the status of the interim ceasefire agreement, Mr Trump stated: "I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them any more. They're scum. They're sick people. They're led by sick people and they're vicious, violent people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, they'd use it."He indicated he would permit negotiations to proceed. Speaking aboard Air Force One, following a brief stop to change aircraft at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk on his return journey from the Nato summit in Turkey, Mr Trump claimed the US had "won militarily" and that Iran wanted to strike a deal.He added: "They want to make a deal so badly – I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal. I don't know that they're going to honor the deal. That's the problem."‌Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi posted on X that Mr Trump's comments "are not a sign of power but an admission of the failure". In a post on X, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said: "The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don't fold."Breaking Tehran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz, which had disrupted global oil and gas supplies and pushed up fuel and food prices, had been a central demand in earlier negotiations.‌However, the initial agreement struck between the US and Iran only guarantees safe, toll-free passage through the waterway for 60 days, pending the outcome of a final deal on Tehran's contested nuclear programme.The pact also leaves it to Iran and Oman, alongside other Gulf states, to "define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz".In the meantime, Iran has continued attempting to assert control over the channel, including demanding vessels seek authorisation to pass through and raising the possibility of future tolls.Article continues belowFollow our live blog for the latest Iran updates by clicking here.