# U.S. and Iran Exchange Strikes for Second Day as Trump Calls Off

**Published:** 2026-06-12T02:14:46.965Z  
**Topic:** U.S., Iran intensify attacks as ceasefire frays, peace talks stall  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/b9807b74-95ff-4172-8dfe-7de29ed67aa8

After two days of U.S. and Iranian military actions, President Trump announced the cancellation of planned strikes, citing progress toward a deal, while the

The United States and Iran engaged in a second consecutive day of military exchanges, with U.S. forces striking Iranian targets and Tehran responding against regional assets, before President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of further strikes that evening [1].  

**Key takeaways**  
- The U.S. carried out self‑defense strikes on Iranian surveillance, communications and air‑defense sites for a second day [2].  
- Iran retaliated by firing at Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, and announced the Strait of Hormuz was closed to all marine traffic [1].  
- President Trump said he had canceled the planned evening strikes after negotiations reached Iran’s highest leadership and were approved by multiple regional partners [2].  
- U.S. Central Command reported that commercial shipping continued through the Strait despite Iranian claims of closure [1].  
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said any Iranian‑inflicted damage would be paid for using Iranian assets [1].  

## Escalation and Immediate Military Response  

On the second day of hostilities, U.S. Central Command described a series of “self‑defense” strikes targeting Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air‑defense installations [2]. The Pentagon said Marine, Air Force and Navy assets fired precision munitions at sites that “posed a threat to U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters” [2]. In response, Iranian forces launched attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, mirroring the retaliation seen the previous day [2].  

Simultaneously, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all marine traffic, a move aimed at pressuring the United States and its allies [1]. U.S. Central Command, however, maintained that the waterway remained open and that commercial traffic continued [1]. The closure claim was reinforced by reports that Iranian forces stopped a non‑compliant oil tanker from passing through the strait without prior coordination [1].  

## Trump’s Cancellation and Diplomatic Signals  

Late in the evening, President Trump posted on social media that he had canceled the scheduled strikes, stating that “discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved” [2]. He added that the decision was supported by a coalition that included the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt [2]. The announcement marked a sharp reversal from earlier threats to hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and to eventually seize Kharg Island, Iran’s key oil export terminal [1][2].  

U.S. officials later confirmed that the military was only three hours away from launching missiles inside Iran when the cancellation was announced [1]. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine had met with Trump earlier that day to discuss options, after which Trump posted the cancellation [1].  

## Why it matters  

The back‑to‑back strikes and the subsequent cancellation underscore the volatility of U.S.–Iran relations and the fragile nature of any prospective diplomatic settlement. While the U.S. maintains that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues, Iran’s claim of closure adds uncertainty for global oil markets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s statement that Iranian assets will be used to reimburse Gulf allies for any damage further signals a punitive economic dimension to the conflict [1]. The next steps hinge on whether the reported negotiations produce a formal agreement, a question that remains unresolved as Iranian officials say no deal has been finalized [1]. Continued monitoring of military activity and diplomatic talks will be essential to gauge the trajectory of the crisis.

## Sources
1. NBC News — [Trump says he has canceled strikes on Iran, signals move toward deal](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-us-strikes-iran-trump-hormuz-closed-rcna349554)
2. Fox 42 News KPTM — [US, Iran trade fire for second straight day as ceasefire faces biggest test yet](https://fox42kptm.com/news/nation-world/us-iran-trade-fire-for-second-straight-day-as-ceasefire-faces-biggest-test-yet-self-defense-strikes-central-command-airstrikes-american-military-bases-strait-of-hormuz-commercial-ships-oil-nuclear-weapon-middle-east-tensions-president-trump-peace-deal)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "U.S. and Iran Exchange Strikes for Second Day as Trump Calls Off", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/b9807b74-95ff-4172-8dfe-7de29ed67aa8