The United States and Iran traded fire for a second consecutive night, in what amounts to a more dangerous phase of the war in the Persian Gulf and raises the prospect of a return to open hostilities. As US forces again struck Iranian targets, the Revolutionary Guard said it had hit bases with a US presence in the region, and Iran's General Staff announced the “absolute” closure of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump threatened new strikes on Thursday if Tehran does not accept his conditions for peace.

Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after the United States launched a new wave of strikes on targets inside the country. Iran's top joint military…

Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply on Thursday after Iranian state media announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and warned that any vessel…