Iran says peace deal voided, fighting ‘existential war’ after US attacks

Escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran have effectively ended a fragile interim peace agreement reached in June, according to Iranian officials. The US conducted multiple rounds of air strikes over two days, targeting military installations in Iranian coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz and on Greater Tunb island. One attack struck a barracks in Bampour in southeastern Iran, killing seven personnel from the 388th Brigade and injuring several others. Iranian media reported additional explosions in multiple locations including Bandar Abbas, Chabahar, and Ahvaz, though the US military denied striking a wheat storage facility in Khuzestan province. According to Iran's health ministry, at least 35 people have been killed and more than 300 wounded in the ongoing strikes. US Central Command stated its forces targeted Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities to degrade Iran's ability to threaten shipping lanes. The US also enforced a renewed blockade on Iranian ports and disabled an oil tanker with a Hellfire missile. Iran's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman stated the country abandoned its commitments under the memorandum because the US failed to uphold its obligations. Iranian officials declared they have no plans for further negotiations with Washington and are focused solely on national defense.