Washington June 28: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States had launched fresh air strikes on Iranian military targets after accusing Tehran of again violating the ceasefire agreement by attacking a commercial oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the Islamic Republic “will no longer exist” if the attacks continue.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes were carried out at the President’s direction after Iran allegedly launched a one-way attack drone that hit the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku at 4:30 a.m. ET.

The tanker was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said US aircraft had struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations as well as coastal radar sites.

“United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN! It is very possible that they will never learn!”

“There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!” the President wrote.

CENTCOM said Iran had been given an opportunity to comply with the ceasefire after Friday’s US strikes in response to the attack on M/V Ever Lovely.

“After yesterday’s US strikes in response to the Iranian attack on M/V Ever Lovely, Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET,” the military command said.

It said US forces launched the latest operation “in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.”

According to CENTCOM, US military aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities and minelayer capabilities.

“Commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz continue. US forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready,” CENTCOM said.

The latest strikes marked another escalation despite the ceasefire agreement announced earlier this week following days of military confrontation between the United States and Iran. Washington has repeatedly accused Tehran of targeting commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Tokyo, June 28: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 struck off Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan early Sunday, the country’s weather agency said. No tsunami warning was issued.

The temblor occurred at 5:21 a.m. local time off Iwate’s eastern coast at a depth of about 40 km, measuring lower 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of Aomori and Iwate prefectures, reports Xinhua, quoting the Japan Meteorological Agency.

No abnormalities were reported at the Higashidori nuclear power plant in Aomori or at the Onagawa nuclear power complex in Miyagi Prefecture, according to their operator.

The quake’s epicentre was located at a latitude of 40.2 degrees north and a longitude of 142.4 degrees east.

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake jolted the same region on Thursday, injuring at least 10 people.

Friday saw two quakes — a 5.6-magnitude and 5.8-magnitude — strike near Tokyo, with shaking clearly felt in the capital. At least 10 people were injured.

At 11:49 a.m. on Friday, a 4.1-magnitude earthquake hit southern Ibaraki Prefecture, with tremors also clearly felt in the capital.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, at least four people were injured after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Japan.

The temblor, revised up from a preliminary magnitude of 6.9, occurred at around 7:30 a.m. local time off the eastern coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of about 40 km. It measured upper 6, the second-highest level on Japan’s seismic scale of 7, in Hashikami Town and lower 6 in Hachinohe City, both in Aomori Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

An intensity of lower 6 means it is difficult to remain standing, and unsecured objects like furniture may topple over, and windows may be damaged, reports Kyodo News, quoting the agency.

Washington, June 28: The United States carried out additional military strikes against multiple Iranian targets on Saturday after Tehran allegedly launched another drone attack on a commercial oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).

The latest action came a day after US forces conducted retaliatory strikes following what Washington described as an Iranian attack on the commercial vessel M/V Ever Lovely. US officials said Iran was given an opportunity to abide by a ceasefire agreement but instead escalated the situation with another strike on a tanker transiting one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.

In an official statement posted on X, CENTCOM said, “US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted additional strikes against multiple targets in Iran, June 27, at the Commander in Chief’s direction.”

The command added that Iran had been given “a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement” following Friday’s US response but “elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET.”

According to CENTCOM, the Panama-flagged tanker was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil while transiting near the Strait of Hormuz at the time of the attack.

Describing the objectives of the latest operation, CENTCOM said, “CENTCOM forces launched strikes today in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping. US military aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.”

In a separate post, the command also disclosed that “US Navy and Air Force fighter jets conducted strikes tonight on 10 Iranian military targets at multiple locations in and near the Strait of Hormuz for Iran’s drone attack on M/T Kiku.”

The latest military action marks another escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the United States stating that the strikes were intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten international shipping in the region.

Despite the heightened military activity, CENTCOM said commercial shipping continues through the vital waterway.

“Commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz continue. US forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready,” the statement concluded.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s busiest energy corridors, handling a significant share of global oil exports, making any disruption to maritime traffic a major concern for international markets and regional security.