Iran: Will Strike US Enterprises in the Middle East "in the Coming Hours"! Trump: Iran's Remaining Ammunition is Running Low

On the early morning of the 17th local time, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement announcing the launch of the 57th wave of strikes under Operation “True Commitment-4.”

The statement said the latest strikes used “Habar Shakan,” “Imad,” and “Qader” missiles to target multiple locations in Israel’s heartland, including command, control, and communication facilities, as well as air defense missile sites. Additionally, “Zolfaghar” and “Chamm” missiles, along with attack drones, were used to attack U.S. military Udayd bases.

On the evening of the 16th local time, the IRGC released a notice stating that Iran would carry out attacks on U.S. enterprises in the region within the “next few hours,” and advised residents in the vicinity of these enterprises to evacuate to avoid harm.

The notice did not specify the countries or cities targeted.

Iran: Using cruise missiles to attack two U.S. air bases; Israeli forces strike IRGC Navy headquarters

On the evening of the 16th local time, the IRGC announced in Statement No. 42 of Operation “True Commitment-4” that several hours earlier, the IRGC Navy coordinated missile and drone operations, using cruise missiles with high-explosive warheads to attack multiple fighter jet sites inside U.S. military bases at Sheikh Essa Air Base and Zafar Air Base.

The IRGC Navy emphasized that such strikes will continue until U.S. bases are fully evacuated and destroyed.

The statement said Zafar Air Base has recently been the source of U.S. attacks on Iranian islands. After this strike, the base’s operational capacity has significantly decreased, and such attacks will persist. On-site reports indicated that smoke rose from the repair and logistics hangars at Sheikh Essa Air Base following missile strikes.

On the evening of March 16, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that the Israeli Air Force recently attacked the IRGC Navy headquarters in Tehran.

The IDF stated that the IRGC Navy headquarters is located within a large complex in eastern Tehran, used for many years by senior commanders and serving Iran’s military operations against Israel and other countries in the Middle East.

U.S. military reports over 200 soldiers injured across 7 Middle Eastern countries

Trump: Iran’s remaining ammunition is nearly exhausted

According to Xinhua News Agency, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command said on the 16th that since the recent military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, over 200 U.S. soldiers have been injured across seven Middle Eastern countries.

Multiple U.S. media outlets reported that CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins stated that soldiers in Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have been injured, mostly in the early stages of the conflict. Some injuries were only reported in recent days, mainly traumatic brain injuries. The number of severely wounded U.S. soldiers has increased to 10.

The Wall Street Journal recently cited a U.S. official as saying that 13 U.S. personnel have died in the military operations against Iran.

On the evening of March 16, U.S. President Trump announced that the U.S. had struck over 7,000 targets in Iran, mainly military and commercial sites. The ongoing strikes over the past days included three missile and drone manufacturing facilities.

Trump also mentioned the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the U.S. has destroyed 30 minesweepers and is unsure whether any mines have been laid.

He predicted that there would be little fighting, as Iran’s remaining ammunition is nearly exhausted.

Sources say there has been “direct contact” between the U.S. and Iran recently; Iran’s Foreign Minister denies

On the 16th local time, sources revealed that Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian recently sent a text message to U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Witterkov. Abdollahian denied this on the same day.

The sources said it is unclear how many messages were exchanged or their content, but this is the first known direct contact between the two sides since the conflict began.

Earlier that day, Abdollahian posted on social media denying the report. He stated that his last contact with Witterkov was before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran.

Earlier, President Trump told reporters at the White House that Iran was in dialogue with U.S. personnel. “There are indeed people proposing negotiations, but we don’t know who they are.”

Abdollahian on the 16th said that the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran must end in a way that guarantees “no more aggression,” and that the U.S. and Israel have “learned their lesson,” realizing they face a country that is willing to defend itself and continue the war.

He made these remarks at the weekly press conference at the Iranian Foreign Ministry. He said, “We do not want a ceasefire because we want to continue the war, but because this time, the war must end in a way that makes the enemy never dare to attack again.”

Abdollahian reiterated that Iran has not requested a ceasefire. After more than two weeks of conflict, the U.S. and Israel have begun seeking help from other countries to ensure the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s stance is that the strait is closed only to “enemies, their allies, and unjust aggressors against our country.”

White House officials say Trump refuses to restart negotiations with Iran

On March 16, two senior White House officials said that Iran recently attempted to contact the Trump administration through various channels, hoping to restart diplomatic talks, but President Trump currently refuses to resume negotiations.

It is reported that Iranian officials tried to directly contact U.S. Middle East envoy Witterkov and other officials within the government to restore diplomatic communication. However, White House officials said Trump has instructed his team to hold off on negotiations, preferring to continue military actions.

White House officials also mentioned that some U.S. allies in the Middle East have offered to help facilitate negotiations, but these offers have been temporarily rejected.

Sources say U.S. military plans for Iran conflict include “exit options”

On March 16, CCTV reporters learned from multiple sources that the U.S. military, when developing operational plans for the Iran conflict, has included multiple “exit options” for President Trump to end the conflict if necessary.

With the ongoing escalation in the Middle East and Iran still controlling key areas like the Strait of Hormuz, the timeline and conditions for ending the war remain highly uncertain. Some government advisors advocate for a withdrawal strategy, concerned about global economic instability, while others see an opportunity to weaken Iran’s regional influence.

Sources said these “exit pathways” have been incorporated into daily war planning.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the U.S. initially estimated that achieving military objectives would take about 4 to 6 weeks. She said the U.S. military is executing its mission, and operations will end once the president deems the objectives achieved and the threat from Iran eliminated.

However, with oil prices rising and doubts about whether Iran will accept U.S. conditions, internal discussions on ending the war have become more critical. Trump previously claimed the war would “end soon,” but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the conflict has “just begun.”