Trump to Hold National Press Conference on July 16...U.S. Military: "Airstrikes on Iran Launched, Will Inflict Significant Damage" (Comprehensive)

Trump Orders Strikes on Iran Through Tomorrow
U.S. Military Resumes Airstrikes and Maritime Blockade Against Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a press conference for the nation on the 16th at 9 p.m. local time. This will be at 10 a.m. on the 17th in Korea. With the U.S. military having launched new airstrikes against Iran, President Trump is expected to announce specific positions regarding military operations against Iran and plans for controlling the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump. White House

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, announced on the 13th that "Airstrikes against Iran have begun" and stated that "the Iranian military will suffer significant damage." However, the specific targets and scale of the strikes were not immediately disclosed.

Earlier that day, President Trump also appeared on the conservative radio program "The Hugh Hewitt Show" and declared, "We will strike Iran hard tonight and tomorrow as well." He added, "There is nothing they can do about it. They have nothing, and the only thing they can do is brag loudly."

Regarding the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a ceasefire with Iran—which is now at risk of being scrapped due to renewed hostilities—he dismissed its significance, saying, "It was created to test Iran." He emphasized that the MOU was a preliminary stage before a formal end-of-war agreement, so "it doesn't mean much." He added, "It was a kind of test, and they failed that test. They did not respect the test."

On the same day, President Trump announced the schedule for the press conference on the 16th via his social media platform, Truth Social. Although he did not specify the agenda, it is highly likely that he will explain future response measures, given the renewed military clash between the United States and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Previously, President Trump declared the resumption of a maritime blockade on ships entering and leaving Iranian ports and announced a 20% fee on all cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz to cover the costs necessary to maintain safety and security in the region. However, he did not explain whether the 20% fee would be applied to the cargo price or transportation cost, or which countries and vessels would be responsible for paying it.

President Trump's plan to impose the 20% fee contradicts the position previously stated by the U.S. government. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the 23rd of last month in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, "The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway, and no country can impose tolls or fees. This is current international law." U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz also criticized Iran's plan to impose tolls, calling it "clearly illegal under international law."

White House Officially Notifies Congress of Resumption of Hostilities... Fears of War Resumption 

The U.S. military has simultaneously resumed its maritime blockade against Iran, intensifying its pressure. CENTCOM announced that, starting from 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the 14th (5 a.m. on the 15th in Korea), it would reinstate the blockade on maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas.

Ahead of the blockade resumption, the U.S. military also expanded its military measures aimed at weakening Iran's capability to attack merchant ships. According to the New York Times (NYT), for the first time in history, the U.S. military deployed maritime drones in an actual attack operation, striking submarine and ship repair facilities at the Bandar Abbas naval base in southern Iran.

CENTCOM stated that three "Corsair" unmanned surface vessels were used in the attack, adding, "This is the first time the U.S. military has used maritime drones in combat operations." They further claimed that this attack weakened Iran's ability to attack merchant ships.

The United States had originally started the blockade on April 13 against ships traveling to and from Iranian ports and coasts, but lifted it on the 18th of last month after signing a ceasefire MOU with Iran. However, after Iran recently attacked civilian ships using routes supported by the United States and declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. resumed attacks on Iranian military facilities.

According to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reacted to the U.S. announcement by stating, "Iran will remain the eternal guardian of the Strait of Hormuz." The Iranian military also warned that it would not permit U.S. involvement in managing the Strait of Hormuz.

With the U.S. resuming airstrikes and the blockade, concerns are rising that a full-scale war could break out again. It has been reported that President Trump has officially notified Congress of the renewed hostilities with Iran. The NYT reported that it had obtained a notification letter dated the 11th, noting that this constitutes an official acknowledgment by the Trump administration that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is collapsing.

Meanwhile, as tensions rise again in the Strait of Hormuz, the number of vessels passing through the strait has plummeted. According to the WSJ, the average daily number of ships crossing the strait last weekend was 19, more than half the previous week's figure. Passage through the U.S.-supported route near Oman has reportedly come to a near standstill.

International oil prices also surged by nearly 10% during trading. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for August delivery closed at $78.14 per barrel, up 9.4% from the previous session. Brent crude for September delivery on the ICE Futures Exchange soared 9.6% to $83.30 per barrel.

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