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The United States launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Iran late Sunday following a sharp escalation in hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz, as several Gulf states came under attack amid intensifying regional conflict.
The strikes, which began around 2100 GMT, targeted multiple locations across southern and western Iran, including Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas near the strategic waterway, and parts of Khuzestan province.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation followed nearly 140 strikes carried out the previous night.
The renewed fighting has further undermined a fragile interim agreement between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending months of conflict that has rattled global energy markets since late February.
Iranian media reported widespread explosions, while authorities confirmed casualties and damage to infrastructure, including a water facility in Mahshahr.
Tehran also accused the US of reigniting instability in the region, saying the strikes had derailed ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Tensions spiked after Iran reportedly attacked commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz earlier Sunday, setting one vessel ablaze and forcing its crew to abandon ship.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later warned that the vital shipping route would be closed “until further notice,” a claim swiftly rejected by the US military, which insisted the strait remains open and secure.
The strategic waterway, a key artery for global oil supplies, has become central to the confrontation. Oil prices rose more than 3.5 percent in early Monday trading, reflecting fears of prolonged disruption.
The conflict quickly spread beyond Iran. Explosions and air raid sirens were reported in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, while Kuwait said its border posts and an offshore oil platform were hit.
Jordan reported missile debris landing into its territory, and Oman lodged a rare diplomatic protest after being struck.
Iran said it had also targeted ships in Hormuz, while regional authorities scrambled to intercept incoming drones and missiles.
A Cyprus-flagged vessel was hit, leaving one Indian sailor missing, as rescue operations saved more than 20 crew members from another ship.
Global leaders renewed calls for restraint. Pakistan urged both sides to pursue dialogue, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate halt to the violence, warning that further escalation could destabilise the wider region.
With both sides trading strikes and threats, prospects for de-escalation appear increasingly uncertain, raising fears of a broader regional conflict centered on one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
