ISLAMABAD: Iran launched fresh attacks on US-allied Gulf states on Saturday after the United States carried out a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets, including logistics infrastructure, further intensifying the conflict a week after a fragile ceasefire collapsed.
The confrontation also expanded at sea, with Washington saying it was enforcing a naval blockade on Iran, while Tehran claimed it was targeting vessels that violated its navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage through which around one-fifth of the worldâs oil supplies transit.
The escalating conflict pushed oil prices up by more than four per cent on Friday, reaching their highest level in over a month and adding political pressure on US President Donald Trump ahead of Novemberâs congressional elections.
Since last weekâs ceasefire broke down, both Washington and Tehran have steadily intensified military operations, raising fears of a return to full-scale war.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its latest operation struck surveillance facilities, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage sites and maritime capabilities.
âUS forces employed fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships in addition to other assets,â Central Command said in a statement.
âMore than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.â
Iranian media reported that missiles struck power facilities and desalination pumps in the southern city of Jask, quoting a local official who said the attacks disrupted drinking water supplies to nearby villages.
Washington said its forces had redirected four commercial vessels, disabled one and boarded another while enforcing its naval blockade.
Meanwhile, Iranâs Revolutionary Guards claimed they stopped four vessels allegedly violating its shipping regulations in the Strait of Hormuz through a combined missile and drone operation.
Iranian state media also reported, citing the Revolutionary Guards, that two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after passing through a mined route south of the strait. The US military rejected the claim, calling it false.
Separately, armed men seized another vessel off Yemen, increasing concerns over security at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, another key global energy shipping route.
Iranâs state television quoted the Revolutionary Guards as saying that until US âaggressionâ ends, it would be impossible to export chemical fertilisers or even a âsingle drop of oil and gasâ from the region.
Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iranâs supreme leader, warned against further US escalation or any attempt to seize Iranian territory.
Iranâs army also claimed it targeted US military positions in Kuwait and Jordan in retaliation for American strikes, according to a statement broadcast by Iranian state television.
The statement said Iranian forces struck an ammunition depot, headquarters buildings, ammunition storage facilities and communication bridges at Kuwaitâs Al-Adiri camp and Ali Al-Salem base. It added that fuel tanks at Jordanâs Al-Azraq base were also targeted.
Growing concern over infrastructure
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the escalating conflict, particularly attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and elsewhere in the region, according to his spokesperson.
For the first time in more than a week, CENTCOM confirmed that its latest strikes included “military logistics infrastructure” among the targets.
Iranian media reported overnight attacks in Hormozgan province near the Strait of Hormuz. State television said three people were killed, eight wounded, and two bridges along with a road tunnel were damaged.
Explosions or strikes were also reported in Sirik, Ahvaz, Yazd, Jask and Khorramabad late Friday and early Saturday.
On Friday, Iranian state media said US strikes hit at least five bridges in the south. Seven people were reportedly killed in attacks on bridges in Bandar Khamir, where a railway station was also struck.
An airport in Iranshahr, near Iranâs border with Pakistan, was also reported to have been hit.
Trump has warned that the US could expand its campaign to target Iranian infrastructure and has not ruled out launching a ground assault on Iranâs coastline or islands.
US officials said operations in southern Iran are partly intended to preserve a range of military options for Trump. Analysts warn that further escalation could prompt Iran to target critical infrastructure in Gulf states or encourage its allies in Yemen to intensify attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, further threatening global energy supplies.
