US Strikes Iran for Fifth Night: White House Says Deal Still Possible

The United States continues its military operations against targets in southern Iran, as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate further. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed via social media that a fifth consecutive night of American strikes against Iranian targets has commenced. Shortly after 10:00 p.m. local time, explosions were reported in the city of Ahvaz in southern Iran, according to the Iranian Mehr News Agency. However, no further details have yet been released regarding the nature or specific targets of the explosions.

Read: New military escalation in the Middle East: US strikes tanker in the Strait of Hormuz with Hellfire missiles — New strikes on Qeshm Island (Video)

According to CENTCOM’s statement, the operations are primarily aimed at degrading Tehran’s military capabilities, as part of the United States’ ongoing effort to limit the operational strength of Iran’s armed forces. At the same time, the White House signals that, despite the renewed tension following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire, communication channels with Tehran remain open and both sides continue to engage in dialogue aimed at reaching a final agreement.

However, developments on the ground, combined with warnings from both sides, are deepening concerns about further destabilization across the broader Persian Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz. Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense separately reported that on Thursday, Iranian forces targeted critical installations, resulting in material damage.

Iran: Missile strikes near the port of Bandar Abbas

At the same time, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that American missiles struck areas near the port of Bandar Abbas on Iran’s southern coast. According to initial reports from Iranian media, the strikes resulted in no casualties, and no damage was caused to residential or commercial buildings.

“Iran still wants a deal,” says the White House

Despite the escalating tensions, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Thursday that Tehran remains in contact with the United States and continues to pursue a diplomatic agreement.

She stated that the recent American strikes were a direct response to Iran’s violation of a memorandum of understanding reached between the two sides. “The reason for the strikes over the past few days is that Iran violated the memorandum of understanding we had in place. Specifically, under the agreement they signed, they were not supposed to fire on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Unfortunately, they made the tragic decision to do so,” she said.

She added that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to vessels not bound for or departing from Iranian ports, emphasizing that the US Navy continues to operate in the area to ensure freedom of navigation through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

“We won’t back down on Hormuz — US must leave Western Asia,” Tehran says

Iran’s Armed Forces spokesperson reiterated Tehran’s position that a fundamental precondition for de-escalation in the region is the withdrawal of American military forces from Western Asia.

He stated that Iran remains firm in its stance and has no intention of backing down on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, those who wish to restore the previous operating status of the strait — as it stood before February 28 — must first call for the withdrawal of US forces and their return home.

It is worth noting that the Iranian side maintains that the presence of foreign military forces in the region is itself a driver of tension, and insists that regional affairs must be resolved without outside interference.