Diplomatic Exchanges with US Ongoing Despite Strikes, Iran Says

Meanwhile, earlier, the US military hit ‌Iranian military coastal surveillance and air ‌defense facilities in the ninth round of strikes, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. The strikes have now been concluded. 

The strikes ‌targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and ‌communications networks, CENTCOM said in a post on X.

US President Donald Trump said that the latest strikes against Iran were carried out in response to the deaths of US service members in the region.

"Those great people, those great patriots, were out there fighting that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters after returning from the FIFA World Cup final. 

"We hit them very hard again tonight."

Trump said the strikes had been carried out "in honor" of the fallen troops. He also said Iran had suffered heavy military losses in the conflict.

"They've lost everything almost militarily," Trump said. 

Trump also claimed the United States controlled the Strait of Hormuz.

"We control the strait. They don't control anything. So we'll see what happens," he said.

However, Iran has refuted that claim, saying a framework agreement reached in mid-June gives Tehran sole responsibility for administering the strategic waterway. That agreement has since fallen apart amid the new hostilities. 

Read: Iran Says MoU 'Suspended' After U.S. Strikes Kill 50 in July

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