The US has initiated a new series of strikes against multiple targets in Iran.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the renewed wave of aerial operations is a response to Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression”.
Shortly after the announcement, fresh explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas and Sirik, with another blast heard near Minab in the southern province of Hormozgan, according to the state-run Mehr News Agency.
The latest bombardments come after a day of sustained military activity across the region.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mehr reported that a series of detonations outside Fars city was the result of air defence systems activating.
Air defence activity was also heard over western Tehran, while some blasts rumbled from afar near Kish Island.
Trump, Hegseth vowed heavy strikes
The latest developments come immediately after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Washington will soon be bombing "key facilities" in Iran.
"Central Command will be busy tonight because President Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard, and we will be," Hegseth said outside US Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida.
"Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal... Instead they're going to have tap, tap, tap bombs dropping on key facilities in Iran from the United States of America."
Hegseth added that the Pentagon is "prepared to set the terms to ensure we get the kind of deal President Trump expects," noting that the planned operations "will be strong" and "clear."
President Donald Trump also stated on Wednesday that the US will resume attacks on Iran after insufficient progress in negotiations to end the war.
"We're going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard," Trump said in the Oval Office, suggesting Iran's recent downing of a US Apache helicopter provides the necessary pretext.
"Based on the helicopter, I guess we have the right to do that," he told reporters.
Trump expressed deep frustration with the slow pace of the ongoing peace talks with Tehran. "I've been working with Iran for a number of months," he said.
"They should sign the deal. It's a good deal. It was just tap, tap, tap. I don't know what they're doing."
