U.S. strikes Iran again as Tehran targets American allies in Gulf region

Geoff Bennett:

Meantime, at the White House today, President Trump said this renewed campaign wouldn't last long, but threatened to hit Tehran, as he put it, very hard if the conflict over the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved.

Our White House correspondent, Liz Landers, starts our coverage.

Liz Landers:

Last night and into today, U.S. missiles slammed into Iran's southern coast, this time Iranian officials saying one of the strikes hit a home in a town overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, killing at least four people, including two children, what was earlier in the night a lively wedding celebration now a grim reminder of America's war with Iran.

Local officials said at least 68 people were wounded, with some being treated at a hospital. The father of the bride said his home was destroyed.

Ali Mallahi, Father of the Bride (through interpreter): It was a very distressing incident. And right now I'm extremely worried and upset about it. And I truly do not know what to do.

Liz Landers:

In a statement to PBS News, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command said -- quote -- "We're aware of the reports which originated from Iranian state media, and we are looking into them. The U.S. military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC."

A regional source told PBS News that the U.S. military was targeting and hit a communications tower in the neighborhood where the wedding was held. The strike was a part of a barrage of attacks by the U.S. against what it says were Iranian military targets in response to Iran's attempt to attack commercial ships and American forces in the region.

Meanwhile, regional American allies last night again on the receiving end of Iran's retaliation. In Kuwait and in Jordan, night skies were illuminated by Iranian drones and missiles that were intercepted as they attempted to target U.S. bases in the region.

And on the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. military struck two Iranian government tankers and nearly 100 military targets under a new tanker-for-tanker policy that sources say was approved by the president, according to reporting from Axios. This marks the first time the U.S. has struck Iranian tankers in retaliation for Iranian attacks on ships in the strait.

Today, in the Oval Office, President Trump claimed the strait is under U.S. control, warning the strikes are the first of many.

President Donald Trump:

We're taking out a lot of ships. They can't see it because they have no radar, because we blew it up, and we blew up much more than their radar last night. It was a very heavy attack.

Liz Landers:

The fierce exchange of fire not only shattered a month-long lull in the war, but also sent oil prices climbing yet again and triggered instant shockwaves across global markets.

And on FOX News today, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said U.S. sanctions will asphyxiate the Iranian regime.

Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

It is a powerful combination. We had the six weeks of successful kinetic strikes. Then we have imposed the blockade.

Liz Landers:

This comes as Bessent said 19 of the G20 finance ministers agreed that ongoing streams of Chinese exports are unsustainable, though China dissented from the consensus. Bessent made his comments yesterday at the end of a two-day meeting with finance ministers and central bankers in North Carolina.

For the first time since they invaded Ukraine, Russia was invited by the United States to the ministerial meeting. And though Russia is being squeezed economically by sanctions, reports indicate that Bessent told Russia there would be no U.S. economic cooperation with that country until the Ukraine war ends.

For the PBS "News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.