US and Iran pause attacks for third night as diplomatic talks continue

The United States has carried out a series of air and missile strikes against Iranian targets for 13 consecutive nights, marking the longest uninterrupted campaign of its kind in the region. The operations, announced by the U.S. Central Command, were conducted from bases in the Middle East and focused on sites that U.S. officials said were linked to Iran’s capacity to disrupt maritime traffic.

U.S. military spokespersons stated that the strikes were intended to “degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” a narrow waterway that handles roughly a fifth of the world’s petroleum shipments. The Strait’s strategic importance has made it a focal point of tension between Tehran and Washington, with both sides accusing the other of provocative actions. The campaign follows a series of incidents in which Iranian-backed groups have targeted vessels transiting the strait, prompting the United States to increase its defensive posture and conduct preemptive attacks on alleged launch sites and command facilities.

The continued U.S. operations underscore the heightened risk to commercial navigation in the Gulf region and signal Washington’s commitment to maintaining open shipping lanes. Analysts note that the sustained pressure aims to limit Iran’s capacity to project power from the strait, while the situation remains under close observation by international maritime authorities and regional governments.