Trump says U.S. is not forcing Iran to negotiate after fresh round of strikes

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump stated he is "not trying to force Iran to the bargaining table," despite recent U.S. military strikes against Iran targeting air defense, communications, and radar sites in retaliation for attacks on commercial shipping and U.S. personnel in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran responded by launching missile attacks on U.S. ally Jordan, where most missiles were intercepted with no casualties reported, while Bahrain also intercepted and destroyed several Iranian air strikes.
• The ongoing conflict has caused oil prices to rise sharply, with Brent crude reaching $94.52 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate hitting $90.03, levels not seen since late July.
• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted that within two years, the Strait of Hormuz will lose its strategic importance as oil transportation shifts to land pipelines, bypassing the waterway.
• The recent exchanges mark the first direct U.S.-Iran military confrontations in about a month, following U.S. economic measures targeting Tehran's supporters and earlier strikes on Iranian rocket launchers preparing attacks in the region.