WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. forces struck Iranian missile sites along Iran's coastline near the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Central Command said Tuesday on X.

"Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran's coastline near the Strait of Hormuz," the command said.

"The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait," it added.

Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that Washington is "not ready" to end its strikes on Iran, now in its third week.

Trump admitted that his demand for a joint escort mission through the Strait of Hormuz has been rejected by most NATO members and U.S. allies, saying he is "disappointed" in NATO's decision and asserting the United States does "not need the help of anyone."

He said Japan, Australia and South Korea also rejected his escort call.

Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian parliament speaker, said in a post on X on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz "won't return to its pre-war status" but gave no further details.

In a recent report by J.P. Morgan, analysts warn that oil producers in the Middle East could sustain output for "no more than 25 days" if the Strait of Hormuz were completely shut.

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, alongside Iran itself, depend on this narrow passage to export their crude oil.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told U.S. media last week that the strait remained open to international shipping, except for vessels belonging to the United States, Israel, and their allies.

The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, disrupting global shipping, sending oil prices soaring and shaking the global economy. ■