Trump says US ready for more Iran strikes, denies plan to rename Hormuz Strait

Washington: The US military stands ready to carry out further strikes on Iran “any time we want”, President Donald Trump has said, while dismissing suggestions that he plans to rename the Strait of Hormuz after himself.

“It was a very heavy attack last night, and we're prepared to do another one any time we want,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday (local time). He claimed US forces had “took out all of the new equipment that they tried to build along the Strait of Hormuz”.

Iranian officials said the latest US strike, on Tuesday night, hit a wedding gathering in Kuhestak, in Sirik county of Hormozgan province, killing at least four people and wounding dozens. The Iranian Red Crescent said shrapnel from a US missile struck a residential home where the ceremony was being held, with reports putting the death toll at four or five, including children, and injuries at more than 50.

The US Central Command said it was examining the reports and reiterated that the US military “never targets civilians”.

Asked later on Wednesday whether he seriously intended to rename the strategic waterway, Trump said: “No, no … it was just thrown out there.” Earlier in the day he had posted on Truth Social: “Now that we have it under USA control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT???” US media had previously reported Trump telling a rally last month that, after “defeating Iran”, he would declare the Hormuz Strait a US territory.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “gravely concerned” by the renewed overnight exchanges of fire between the United States and Iran, his spokesperson said. “The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by reports of civilian casualties, including in a strike that reportedly hit a wedding ceremony in Iran,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Guterres condemned all attacks against civilians and recalled that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. He reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of military action and urged all concerned to exercise restraint and avoid actions and rhetoric that could further escalate already high tensions.

“Further escalation … would have devastating consequences for civilians and for the wider region and beyond,” Dujarric said, noting that few countries in the region are immune from the fallout, with airspace and critical shipping routes heavily affected. The escalation, he added, is compounding humanitarian needs in a region already facing multiple crises, where operations are overstretched and underfunded.

Guterres urged the United States and Iran to return urgently to diplomacy, saying a comprehensive and durable settlement can be achieved only through dialogue and negotiations.

(Inputs from IANS)