CENTCOM described the new wave of attacks as self-defense against unwarranted aggression

The United States has carried out strikes in Iran for the second consecutive day as US President Donald Trump seeks to pressure Tehran into accepting his peace terms.

Explosions and impacts were reported across southern and central Iran hours after US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the US Central Command (CENTCOM) "will be busy tonight."

"Because President Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard - and we will be," Hegseth told reporters.

The Pentagon chief said the strikes would target "key facilities" in Iran and added that Tehran "has an opportunity to make a deal" with Washington.

The hostilities marked the biggest escalation since a truce was reached in April.

Despite Trump's insistence that the sides were close to a deal, the negotiations had stalled for weeks, with both sides accusing each other of bad faith and ceasefire violations.

Last week, Iran threatened to suspend the talks in response to Israel's continued airstrikes in Lebanon.

Tehran's conditions for a peace agreement include the cessation of hostilities "on all fronts," including Lebanon, where Israel has been waging a war against Hezbollah since early March. Israel and Iran exchanged strikes on Monday.

On Wednesday, the US launched strikes in Iran in response to what it described as the downing of an American AH-64 Apache attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran denied responsibility for the incident and responded with a missile barrage targeting US bases in the region.

Here are the latest developments:

(RT.com)