The conflict between the United States and Iran escalated further on Thursday as Washington launched another wave of strikes on Iranian military facilities, while Tehran responded with attacks targeting US assets in Gulf countries.
Read More: US, Iran conflict intensifies with fresh strikes and regional retaliation
The latest hostilities came after the collapse of a fragile ceasefire and the resumption of military operations around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route. The waterway previously carried around one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments before the conflict disrupted maritime traffic.
US Central Command said its forces targeted Iranian coastal defence systems, cruise missile storage facilities, missile launch sites, air defence systems, drone capabilities and command centres. The strikes reportedly hit locations including Greater Tunb Island and Bandar Abbas, a strategic Iranian port city near the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military also said it disabled an empty oil tanker heading towards Iran’s Kharg Island after it ignored warnings. American officials said the action was part of efforts to enforce a naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it carried out retaliatory strikes against US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Iranian officials said the attacks targeted communication systems, fuel storage facilities, radar systems and air defence equipment.
The renewed fighting has increased concerns over regional stability and global energy supplies. Brent crude oil prices reached a one-month high of $84.95 per barrel amid fears of prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials said reopening the strategic waterway would depend on US compliance with a previously signed memorandum of understanding and Iranian conditions regarding maritime movement.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Iran wanted to negotiate and claimed Tehran was seeking a settlement. He also confirmed that Iran had released an American citizen previously detained in the country, describing it as a goodwill gesture.
Read More: US–Iran war reignites with major strikes
The latest escalation follows months of tensions that have caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people, particularly in Iran and Lebanon, where fighting involving Hezbollah has also intensified.