US launches new strikes on Iran as naval blockade intensifies tensions

The United States launched a new wave of airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday, intensifying a military standoff that has brought the Strait of Hormuz — vital to global energy supplies — closer to a full-scale crisis. The strikes, part of a renewed naval blockade of Iranian ports, targeted coastal defense systems and cruise missile facilities on Greater Tunb Island, a strategic location in the strait. Iran retaliated by threatening to shut down additional regional energy export routes, warning that “regional energy exports are either shared by all, or denied to all.”

The escalation follows weeks of escalating tensions between the two nations, with both sides accusing each other of attacking commercial shipping. The U.S. Military said it conducted a 90-minute barrage of strikes on Wednesday, following a seven-hour campaign the previous night that hit dozens of military targets near the strait. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have struck U.S. Military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, while vowing to close the Strait of Hormuz “until the end of America’s evils.”

The conflict has deepened since Iran closed the strait in late June, disrupting about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments. The U.S. Reimposed the blockade on July 14, citing Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels, including a Cyprus-flagged container ship on July 11. Iranian officials reported at least 30 civilian deaths and over 260 injuries from recent U.S. Strikes, while the IRGC claimed seven military personnel were killed in overnight attacks on a base in the southeast. The U.S. Has also targeted Iran’s 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, describing the strikes as part of efforts to degrade capabilities used to attack shipping.

Iran’s threats extend beyond the strait. The IRGC warned it may use its Houthi allies in Yemen to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical gateway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. A Houthi official reportedly stated the group could force oil prices to $200 a barrel if Saudi Arabia continued its military operations in Yemen. The Houthis, which have previously disrupted Red Sea trade, have already demonstrated their ability to choke global commerce, with attacks on commercial ships since 2023.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a hardline approach, vowing to strike Iranian power plants and bridges unless negotiations resume. “You better make a deal, or you’re not going to have anything left,” he told Fox News. Earlier, he had floated a 20% fee on shipping through the strait but scrapped the idea after backlash, instead pledging to seek investment deals with Gulf states. The U.S. Has also deployed over 20 Navy warships and hundreds of aircraft to the region, reinforcing its stance as the “guardian” of the strait.

Oil prices surged to over $85 a barrel on Wednesday, driven by fears of further supply disruptions. Brent crude hit a one-month high, with analysts warning that global energy markets are increasingly vulnerable. The International Monetary Fund cautioned that “much of the room” for price stability has been used up, as spare oil capacity dwindles and inventories shrink. The U.S. And Iran’s interim ceasefire deal, which aimed to resume talks on nuclear issues and a permanent truce, has collapsed amid the renewed hostilities.

The conflict has also strained regional alliances. Gulf states hosting U.S. Forces, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, have faced Iranian missile attacks, with Jordan intercepting three ballistic missiles on Wednesday. Iran’s ambassador to the UN accused the U.S. Of being the “aggressor,” while the IRGC claimed to have destroyed a U.S. Logistics facility in Kuwait and targeted a base in Jordan. The U.S. Has denied these claims but acknowledged Iran’s attacks on its interests in the region.

Despite the escalation, analysts suggest a full-scale war remains unlikely, though the risk of further clashes persists. The U.S. Faces domestic pressure to avoid a prolonged conflict, while Iran seeks to assert control over the strait and leverage its position in global energy markets. As both sides prepare for more strikes, the world watches closely, aware that a miscalculation could trigger a crisis with far-reaching economic and geopolitical consequences.