US and Iran Exchange Strikes Amid Rising Strait of Hormuz Tensions
Two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman.
The United States launched a new attack on Iran on Sunday evening, continuing a series of strikes between the two nations. Iranian state media reported that the strikes resulted in one fatality and four injuries in southwestern Iran.
Within hours of the latest US strikes, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had targeted US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain.
This escalation in attacks raises doubts about the future of the interim US-Iran agreement signed in June, amid conflicting claims regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran asserts it has closed the strategic waterway until further notice, while the US maintains it remains open.
On Sunday evening, US Central Command (Centcom) announced another round of strikes against Iran, commencing at 17:00 ET (22:00 BST). Dozens of Iranian military targets were hit, including air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, and missile and drone capabilities.
Centcom stated,
"US forces were prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping despite Iran's continued unwarranted aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations."
Minutes before Centcom's announcement, Iranian state television reported explosions in Sirik, Qeshm, Bandar Abbas, and Jask.
According to IRNA, citing Valiollah Hayati, the deputy governor for security and law enforcement in Khuzestan province,
"Following the attack of the American enemy on Monday morning... one person was martyred and four others were injured."
Oil prices rose sharply on Monday morning in Asia. Brent crude increased by 4% to $79.07 (£59.11) per barrel, while US-traded oil rose 4.2% to $74.53 per barrel.
Energy prices on global wholesale markets have fluctuated significantly in recent months as traders respond to developments in the conflict.
Following US and Israeli attacks on Iran on 28 February, Tehran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage through which approximately 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) typically transits.
Despite recent price increases, oil prices remain well below the peak of over $120 per barrel Brent reached at the end of April.
The new US strikes on Sunday evening followed a previous wave of attacks in which US forces targeted 140 Iranian military sites, Centcom reported on Saturday evening.
In response, Iran's IRGC launched broad attacks on US bases and allied countries across the region, marking an escalation in hostilities.
Targets included Qatar, a mediator in ceasefire talks that had not been attacked since April, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which had not been attacked since May. The BBC has sought comment from US Central Command regarding an attack in Jordan.
This renewed exchange of fire jeopardizes the interim ceasefire agreement signed last month, which aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ultimately bring a permanent resolution to the conflict.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump declared that Iranian attacks signaled the end of the ceasefire, while Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of violating the agreement.
Nevertheless, President Trump stated that talks would continue and mediators were working to revive the negotiation process.
On Sunday, US Central Command reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and warned that US military forces are positioned to ensure its continued free flow.
Additional reporting by Goncheh Habibiazad.
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