US Escalates Strikes Against Iran as Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed
The United States has launched a wave of military strikes against Iran for the sixth consecutive night, according to US Central Command (Centcom). The military operations, which aim to further degrade Iranian military capabilities, have expanded to include civilian infrastructure, according to Iranian state media. Centcom officials confirmed that as part of an ongoing blockade of Iranian ports, US forces have boarded at least one vessel. This follows an earlier operation on Thursday where US forces disabled an unladen oil tanker attempting to reach Kharg Island by firing Hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack after it ignored multiple warnings.
Civilian Infrastructure Targeted
Iranian state media has reported that US strikes have hit a range of civilian targets, including a train station, an airport, and various bridges. The BBC has verified damage to at least one bridge located to the west of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province. Additional strikes were reported near the cities of Ahvaz, Sirik, and Qeshm, as well as in the capital, Tehran, where reports of air defenses were heard early Thursday. Iranian officials claim that the recent wave of US strikes has resulted in more than 35 deaths and over 300 injuries.
Regional Retaliation and Escalation
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claims to have retaliated by launching strikes against US maritime surveillance radar sites in Oman, as well as targets in Bahrain and Kuwait. Furthermore, the IRGC reported a surprise attack on a US special operations command center at al-Tanf in Syria, near the Jordanian border, which they stated was in response to the killing of Iranian soldiers two days prior. Neither the US nor the Syrian government have commented on the al-Tanf claim. The conflict has spilled into neighboring territories. On Friday, Jordan’s military reported shooting down three Iranian missiles, noting no casualties or damage. Additionally, Kurdish forces in Iraq reported that eight drones were intercepted over Erbil, with no casualties reported.
For more on this story, see Trump Threatens to Bomb Iranian Power Plants and Bridges to Force Talks.
Strait of Hormuz and Global Energy Stakes
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime artery that previously accounted for approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, remains closed. Tehran blocked the waterway in response to earlier US-Israeli strikes, and the IRGC has threatened to halt all energy exports from the region, stating that regional exports are either shared by all or denied to all. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has expressed significant concern regarding the impact on global energy supplies. Fatih Birol, head of the IEA, stated on Thursday night that the situation requires urgent attention, noting his concern if conditions do not improve in the coming weeks. Brent crude oil prices have risen above $85 a barrel, representing a 15% increase since the conflict began, though remaining below the $120 peak reached at the height of the war.
This follows our earlier report, Trump Leans Toward Expanding U.S. Military Operations in Iran.
Status of Diplomacy and the MOU
The current hostilities occur despite a memorandum of understanding (MOU) previously signed by both nations intended to end the war and restart nuclear program negotiations. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator, stated that the MOU is only meaningful if its clauses are implemented, warning that Iran has no reason to adhere to the agreement if it derives no benefit. Iranian military spokespeople maintain that the only path to reopening the Strait of Hormuz is US compliance with the MOU.
Amid the fighting, US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Iran had released an American citizen, Dena Karari, who had been detained since late 2024. President Trump characterized the release as a gesture of goodwill.
On Friday, the foreign ministers of China and Pakistan issued a joint call for both the US and Iran to cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table.
Read also: US Forces Strike Iranian Military Targets to Protect Commercial Shipping.
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