Tensions Escalate as U.S. Fires Tomahawks and Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz

[Anchor]

The conflict between the United States and Iran, triggered by the downing of a U.S. military helicopter, is intensifying. The U.S. has launched dozens of Tomahawk missiles into Iranian territory, while Iran has completely blockaded the Strait of Hormuz and launched a series of attacks on U.S. military bases across the Middle East.

Reporter Kim Min-pyo has the story.

[Reporter]

Tomahawk cruise missiles are fired in succession from a U.S. Navy destroyer toward Iran.

President Trump stated that 49 Tomahawk missiles were used in this strike, which reportedly hit targets not only around the Strait of Hormuz but also as far as 65 kilometers west of the capital, Tehran.

[Trey Yingst/Fox News Correspondent: President Trump said that if Iran does not sign the agreement, he will bomb and destroy them tomorrow night.]

The U.S. military claimed the strike was an exercise of self-defense following the downing of an Apache helicopter, but also revealed an intention to pressure Iran into a ceasefire agreement.

[Pete Hegseth/U.S. Secretary of Defense: If we have to negotiate with bombs, we will gladly negotiate with bombs. We are very good at that.]

In response to the U.S. airstrikes, Iran announced that it has completely closed the Strait of Hormuz and attacked two vessels attempting to pass through.

[Iranian State IRIB News Anchor: All types of vessel traffic, including oil tankers and merchant ships, are prohibited, and any vessel attempting to pass may become a target.]

Furthermore, Iran claimed to have launched retaliatory attacks on 18 U.S. military bases in the Middle East, including the U.S. 5th Fleet base in Bahrain. Specifically, it claimed to have destroyed several U.S. fighter jets by firing 12 ballistic missiles at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. for its "illegal attacks," declaring that the ceasefire agreement has become meaningless.

As the conflict between the two sides reaches a breaking point, a U.S. journalist reported hearing that President Trump had even mentioned the option of using nuclear weapons during a meeting.

Analysts suggest that while it may not have been a serious consideration, it reflects the frustration of President Trump as the ceasefire negotiations remain deadlocked.

(Video Editing: Lee Seung-jin, Source: U.S. Central Command SNS)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.