US official says Iran tensions could last up to a month

WASHINGTON, United States — A US official said current tensions with Iran, linked to Tehran's attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, could stretch from a day or two to as long as a month. The official said Washington was preparing to deliver a sharp blow to show Iran that the United States is serious. US Central Command confirmed that more than 170 Iranian military targets have been struck over the past two days. The command announced that an additional wave of airstrikes deep inside Iranian territory was completed in the morning hours. Washington described the latest operations as a continuation of strikes carried out the previous night, aimed at weakening Iran's capacity to target commercial vessels and civilian seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz. The US message, according to the official, is that operations will continue in response to Iranian actions threatening regional maritime trade.