Fresh tensions have erupted in the Middle East as Iran launched new attacks targeting US military bases in several Gulf countries, while the United States carried out another wave of overnight strikes on military sites across Iran.
Iran said its operations targeted locations in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, marking the sixth consecutive day of renewed military confrontations despite earlier efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement.
The US military announced that it conducted a six-hour operation against command centres, air defence systems and coastal surveillance facilities, saying the strikes were intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest escalation follows a warning from US President Donald Trump, who said Iran would face additional military action if it failed to return to negotiations.
Iranian officials, however, insisted they would not accept any agreement that did not serve the country’s interests. Senior official Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran’s national security depended on maintaining its strategic position in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported explosions in several areas, including Tehran, where air defence systems were activated. Authorities also said a children’s cancer treatment centre in Ahvaz was evacuated after nearby strikes.
Meanwhile, Gulf nations reported coming under attack. Kuwait said it intercepted incoming drones, while Bahrain urged residents to remain calm and move to safe locations. Iran also claimed it targeted US communication facilities and fuel storage sites in Jordan during its latest military operations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, disrupting one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. The United States has also reinstated a blockade on Iranian ports, prompting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to warn that additional oil and gas export routes serving US interests could also be affected.
The ongoing conflict has contributed to rising global oil prices as tanker traffic through the strategic waterway continues to decline.
Despite the heightened military tensions, President Trump welcomed Iran’s decision to release an American citizen who had been detained since December 2024, describing the move as a positive gesture.
