US Launches New Strikes on Iran as Conflict Escalates, Tehran Warns of Wider War
The US launched fresh strikes on Iran's coastal defenses and missile sites, escalating the conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated against US regional bases and warned of wider energy shutdowns, while a major US naval and air buildup signals potential sustained military action. The war has killed thousands and raised global energy fears.
The United States conducted a new wave of strikes against Iranian coastal defense systems and missile sites on Wednesday after reimposing a naval blockade, while Iran threatened to shut down more regional energy exports and warned of a “full-scale regional war.” The strikes mark a significant escalation in hostilities between the two nations, with both sides exchanging attacks and counterattacks across the region.
U.S. Central Command said the strikes, which began at 6 a.m. ET and lasted about 90 minutes, targeted coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Iran’s Greater Tunb Island. The operation followed seven hours of strikes on Tuesday that hit dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and coastal areas. The U.S. military stated the strikes were designed to degrade capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the strategic waterway.
In retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it struck U.S. military targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Tehran also threatened to shut off more regional energy exports, warning that the U.S. “must brace for the closure of all other export corridors that benefit the U.S. and its allies.” The head of Iran’s wartime military command said the U.S. is “fanning the flames of a full-scale regional war” and cautioned neighboring countries that aligning with Washington could cause them to “burn in the fire of war.”
Hostilities have surged since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz late Saturday, a waterway that previously carried about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments. The U.S. says Iran has attacked seven commercial ships over the past week, resulting in nearly a dozen crew members killed, missing, or injured. On Saturday, two vessels were struck off the coast of Oman, with one suffering engine room damage. Iran warned other ships against trusting U.S. promises of safe passage, and said four other vessels were turned back. The Revolutionary Guard declared the strait would remain closed until “the end of America’s evils.”
The war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering Iranian attacks on Gulf states hosting U.S. bases and causing major disruptions to global energy supplies, raising fears of inflation. Oil prices rose to a one-month high this week. Iran has also struck energy infrastructure in Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. An interim ceasefire deal signed last month was meant to lead to negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and a permanent truce, but talks have faltered.
President Donald Trump has threatened to hit Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran does not resume negotiations, saying he would “save energy targets for last.” U.S. negotiators reportedly told their Iranian counterparts to “make a deal.” However, Trump also scrapped a proposed 20% fee on shipping through the strait, saying he would instead seek investment deals with Gulf states.
The U.S. has been building a major force of naval and air assets in the region. Currently, Washington has 13 warships in West Asia, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, nine destroyers, and three littoral combat ships. The USS Gerald R. Ford — the world’s largest carrier — is en route from the Caribbean with three destroyers, making it rare to have two U.S. carriers in the region simultaneously. A large fleet of warplanes, including F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, F-15s, F-16s, and KC-135 refueling aircraft, has also been deployed. The buildup echoes a previous deployment when two carriers were present during strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.
The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, where fighting has reignited between Israel and Hezbollah. An Iranian government spokesperson said at least 30 civilians have been killed in recent U.S. strikes on southern Iran. Iran’s army reported at least seven personnel killed in overnight strikes on the Bampur military base. Earlier, a two-year-old boy was killed when his home was hit on the island of Qeshm.