Iran also claimed it launched drone attacks targeting US military assets in Bahrain, while CENTCOM said American operations were aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities linked to threats in the Strait of Hormuz.
The renewed US naval blockade comes after attacks on MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa, which were carrying 30 Indian seafarers. One Indian was killed and several others were injured during the strikes.
Donald Trump also said US representatives had spoken with Iranian officials shortly before the interview and claimed Washington had warned Tehran to "make a deal". He declined to rule out ground action and said operations would continue until he decides otherwise.
Donald Trump also proposed charging commercial vessels a fee equivalent to 20 per cent of cargo value for US protection in the Strait of Hormuz, a demand Iran dismissed while asserting it remains responsible for securing the strategic waterway.
The latest exchange of strikes between the United States and Iran has laid bare a familiar paradox of international politics: wars often continue because neither side can secure through force what only diplomacy can ultimately deliver.
The US military reportedly intercepted Iranian drones targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as intelligence assessments warned Tehran can still disrupt the strategic waterway despite progress towards a new agreement.
The announcement of a framework agreement between the United States and Iran has understandably been greeted with relief.
Speaking at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland during a session titled 'Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition,' he spoke at length on what prompted India to increase oil purchases from Russia following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Qatar and Pakistan remain involved in mediation efforts, but Tehran says changing US positions and security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz continue to complicate negotiations.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed attacks on military facilities across the Gulf, including bases in Jordan and Bahrain, as tensions with the United States entered a dangerous new phase.
