'We hit them very hard': Trump says latest US strikes on Iran honour American troops killed in conflict

The United States and Iran continued to trade missile and air strikes on Sunday, with the conflict showing little sign of easing after the collapse of a preliminary ceasefire effort.

Amid the escalating hostilities, US President Donald Trump said the latest round of American military strikes was carried out in honour of US service members killed in recent days.

"We hit them very hard again tonight, and we did that in honour of the, probably three, it's probably three great patriots," Trump told reporters after returning to Washington from the FIFA World Cup final.

Asked about the recent military deaths, Trump said the United States "feels very badly" and added that the service members were fighting to ensure that "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon."

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Fresh strikes after military losses

The latest exchange of attacks comes as Washington seeks to "punish" Tehran following the first US military fatalities since open hostilities resumed in West Asia.

A preliminary agreement aimed at ending the conflict has since fallen apart, leaving both sides locked in a dangerous confrontation centred on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.

Iran said it fired missiles at two US military bases in Kuwait in retaliation for more than a week of American strikes, which it claims have hit transport infrastructure and civilian facilities, including an under-construction nuclear power plant.

Meanwhile, Jordan reported intercepting missiles a day after the US military announced that two American service members were killed there and another remained missing while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.

US reports another military death

As the conflict widened, US Central Command said another American service member died in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone.

The command also confirmed it had launched a ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran, saying the operations were intended to "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members."

The latest death reported on Saturday brings the confirmed number of US military fatalities to 17 since Washington and Israel began their campaign against Iranian targets with a wave of strikes on February 28.

US Central Command said on Sunday that two American service members were killed in Jordan on Friday, while unidentified remains were also recovered from the site.

Nuclear plant attack under scrutiny

The fighting has also raised fresh concerns over the safety of nuclear facilities.

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization accused the United States of attacking the unfinished Darkhovin nuclear power plant in the country's southwest, calling it "an aggressive and brutal act contrary to international law."

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was reviewing the reports but noted that the facility contained no nuclear material during its last inspection.

IAEA Director Rafael Grossi renewed his call for military restraint around all nuclear-related sites.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would "take appropriate action to defend its national interests and security."

Conflict spreads across the region

The widening conflict has increasingly drawn neighbouring countries into the crisis.

Jordan said its military, working alongside Israeli forces, intercepted an Iranian missile heading towards the port city of Aqaba. Earlier, the US Embassy in Amman had warned of a "specific and credible threat" targeting the city's port and airport.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any Iranian missile attack on Israel would be met with "full force," adding that Israel was prepared for both defensive and offensive action if necessary.

Jordan later summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires to protest what it described as continued Iranian aggression against the kingdom.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, Kuwait said a power and water plant came under attack for a second straight day, triggering a fire. Bahrain's military also said it intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks, accusing Tehran of targeting civilians.

Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre

At the heart of the confrontation remains the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world's oil supply passes.

Iran shut the strategic waterway after the conflict erupted and has sought to use control over it as leverage in negotiations with Washington.

On Sunday, the Revolutionary Guards said they stopped two ships attempting to transit the strait via what they described as an unsafe route, while two other vessels turned back.

The Guards alleged the ships were operating with the support of "American terrorists" to disrupt maritime traffic.

Diplomatic hopes fade

Even as international mediators continue efforts to bring both sides back to the negotiating table, hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough are fading.

Iran's health ministry said at least 50 people had been killed and more than 500 wounded in the latest fighting.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to teach the United States "unforgettable lessons," while central military commander Ali Abdollahi warned that any further American attacks would trigger a "decisive and devastating response."