US strikes on Iran intensify Gulf conflict further
American attacks trigger wider regional retaliation as diplomacy struggles to prevent conflict from escalating across the Middle East
TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — The United States launched another wave of airstrikes across Iran, further escalating the conflict and triggering retaliatory attacks by Tehran against key US allies in the Gulf, raising fears that Washington’s military campaign is pushing the region toward a broader war.
The latest American strikes came after Washington announced the death of another US service member. In response, Iran launched attacks targeting Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, as hostilities continued to spread beyond Iranian territory.
The renewed violence has effectively collapsed a temporary agreement reached last month to halt the fighting, while commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted, threatening one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
The US military said its ninth consecutive night of airstrikes targeted Iranian military command centers, missile and drone launch sites, coastal surveillance facilities, communications networks and air defense systems.
Iranian state media reported casualties in the northwestern city of Tabriz and said additional strikes hit several locations in Khuzestan, Hormozgan and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces.
The continued American bombardment has increasingly struck infrastructure relied upon by civilians, adding to concerns over the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. Iranian authorities said at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in the latest US attacks.
Meanwhile, maritime security risks continued to grow after two commercial vessels were attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz, with one catching fire and its crew forced to abandon ship. The incidents have further disrupted global shipping routes and heightened concerns over international energy supplies.
Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen also announced plans to block Saudi shipping through the Red Sea, threatening another vital oil export route after blaming Riyadh for attacks on Sanaa International Airport. The developments have pushed global oil prices higher, with Brent crude rising above $88 per barrel.
Jordan said it intercepted three Iranian missiles without casualties, while Kuwait reported activating its air defense systems against incoming projectiles. Bahrain also condemned Iranian drone attacks targeting its air traffic infrastructure.
Despite the escalating conflict, diplomatic efforts continue. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Pakistan for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials as Islamabad renewed its efforts to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Pakistani officials said they remained hopeful diplomacy could still prevent a wider regional war.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained open to negotiations with Iran but acknowledged that diplomatic progress remained unlikely under current conditions.
Since the conflict began on Feb. 28, Iranian officials say repeated US military operations have caused significant casualties and extensive damage, while the continued escalation has increased instability across the Middle East and intensified concerns over regional security and global energy markets.
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