US President Donald Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that US forces 'will be hitting Iran very hard tonight' and will 'assume total control' of Iran's oil and gas markets 'at some point in the not too distant future.' He repeated Washington's assertion that Iran's military capabilities are largely destroyed.

These claims contradict recent events: Iran allegedly downed a US Army helicopter this week and targeted Israel and US bases on Wednesday. The April 8 ceasefire appears to have collapsed, with Iran's Foreign Ministry calling the latest US strikes a 'flagrant violation' that renders the truce 'practically meaningless.'

A US strike off Oman killed three Indian sailors aboard the tanker Settebello. India's Foreign Ministry summoned a senior US diplomat to lodge a 'strong protest.' Another tanker, Jalveer, was also hit, with its crew evacuated by Omani authorities.

Iran's military command declared the Strait of Hormuz completely closed, threatening to attack any vessel. The US Central Command denied this, stating commercial traffic continues to transit the strait, though volumes remain far below pre-war levels.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated Berlin's readiness to participate in a naval mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz after the conflict, while pursuing a diplomatic solution.

US strikes injured three people in Tehran province, according to local media. The US said it targeted surveillance, communication, and air defense sites in a second wave of attacks this week.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed attacks on US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, including 12 ballistic missiles at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan. Kuwait and Bahrain reported air raid sirens; Kuwait temporarily closed its airspace.

The US Embassy in Jordan warned of missiles and drones in Jordanian airspace, urging shelter. The escalation has dashed hopes for a swift end to the war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.

Source: www.dw.com