U.S. and Iran Clash for Second Consecutive Day... Defined as 'Negotiating with Bombs,' Not All-Out War (Comprehensive)

Trump: "Iran Only Needs to Sign"

Hegseth: "Negotiating with Bombs"

Iran Completely Closes the Strait of Hormuz

Official X Account of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)

The United States has launched massive airstrikes against mainland Iran for the second consecutive day. The U.S. government insists that these strikes are strictly a form of "coercive diplomacy," while U.S. President Donald Trump has also pressured Iran by urging it to "sign the end-of-war agreement." However, Iran has once again completely closed the Strait of Hormuz and continued its military provocations across the Middle East. With both sides resuming full-scale hostilities, concerns are mounting over the prospect of a prolonged conflict.

U.S. Launches Airstrikes on Iran for Second Consecutive Day...Not All-Out War but 'Negotiating with Bombs'

Official X account of United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

On June 10 (local time), United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees the Iran war, announced in a statement that it had conducted additional airstrikes on Iranian territory, following the previous day's attacks. CENTCOM stated, "At 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time, we initiated additional defensive strikes against multiple targets in Iran." However, details regarding the specific targets and operational situation were not released.

Iranian authorities reported that civilian infrastructure had been hit. According to Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the strikes destroyed a gas field and a chemical plant in Asaluyeh Province in southwestern Iran. Additionally, two public water facilities and reservoirs in the southern Sirik region were blown up, cutting off water supplies to the area.

This attack is considered the largest since a ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. took effect in April. However, the U.S. government drew a line, stating that this was not a resumption of full-scale war but rather pressure aimed at negotiations. The Wall Street Journal reported, "The Pentagon defined this as 'coercive diplomacy' to force concessions from Iran at the negotiating table," and pointed out that "Iran provoked the U.S. by failing to show any public sign of willingness to sign the agreement."

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also described the airstrikes as "negotiating with bombs" during a press conference at the CENTCOM headquarters in Florida. He stated, "If necessary, this is how we will negotiate, and we are very skilled at it. No country in the world can do it better than we can."

U.S. President Donald Trump called for a swift agreement with Iran. At a White House press conference, he said, "We hit them hard yesterday, and we will do so again today," emphasizing, "The agreement was almost finalized, but they (Iran) continue to stall. All negotiations are essentially complete, and Iran only needs to sign."

In an interview with Fox News, he added, "I have spoken directly with Iranian officials requesting a halt to airstrikes, and U.S. military action will soon be suspended." However, he warned that "the option for additional strikes remains open." On the other hand, Iranian officials have denied that President Trump had any communication with them.

End-of-War Agreement Becomes More Difficult...Concerns Over Prolonged Conflict

AP Yonhap News

In response to the U.S. offensive, Iran has once again played the card of closing the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement broadcast by state media IRIB, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Military Headquarters, which commands all Iranian forces, announced, "The Strait of Hormuz is now completely closed, and the passage of all vessels, including oil tankers and merchant ships, is prohibited. Any vessel attempting to pass through the strait will become a target of attack."

The Iranian military also attacked two ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iran International, an anti-government outlet, the Iranian military stated that it attacked two ships violating regulations in the strait. Detailed information about the types of ships, the extent of damage, and any casualties was not disclosed. The IRGC warned via Tasnim News Agency that "if the United States continues its military actions, Iran will target additional U.S.-owned assets in the Middle East."

Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, who has previously been known as a moderate emphasizing negotiations with the U.S., also took a hardline stance. On the social networking service X (formerly Twitter), President Pezeshkian declared, "We will firmly withstand external pressure based on the expertise of our professionals and national unity." He strongly criticized the United States, saying, "The threat to target our core infrastructure is not a show of strength, but rather evidence of desperation in the face of Iran's resolve."

Some observers are concerned that the war could become prolonged. Axios, citing sources, reported, "Iranian and American officials held indirect talks through Qatari mediators over the past two days in Doha, but key issues remain unresolved." The report added, "Qatari officials attempted to arrange direct face-to-face meetings between the U.S. and Iran, but the Iranian side refused."

CBS News pointed out, "The Trump administration initially planned to end the war four to five weeks after its outbreak, but it has now been 15 weeks—three times longer than planned." The report added, "There is no evidence that any agreement has been reached on core issues such as the nuclear program or the Strait of Hormuz during the unstable ceasefire period since April."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.