US President Donald Trump has said the latest military strikes on Iran were being carried out in honour of US service members killed in recent days.

"We hit them very hard again tonight, and we did that in honour of the, probably three, it's probably three great patriots," Trump told reporters as he returned to Washington following the World Cup final.

"We'll strike Iran again tonight in honour of the American soldiers," the US President added, noting that US forces gave a "very powerful blow to Iran tonight".

Trump stated, "we feel very badly" when asked about the military fatalities, adding that those who died were fighting so that "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon".

Nine consecutive nights of strikes

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday that it launched a new wave of strikes against Iran beginning at 7 pm ET, marking the ninth consecutive night of military operations.

"CENTCOM began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran at 7 pm ET today for the ninth consecutive night," it said on X.

It added that the strikes are intended to further weaken Iranian military capabilities used to target commercial shipping and civilian mariners passing through the Strait of Hormuz.