The United States and Iran have exchanged fresh military strikes, escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
The U.S. military said it carried out what it described as additional self-defense strikes targeting Iranian military surveillance systems, communications infrastructure and air defense sites. Washington said the operation was aimed at protecting U.S. forces and ensuring the safety of international shipping routes.
The strikes followed comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused Iran of delaying negotiations to end the conflict and warned that Tehran would face consequences.
Iran responded with retaliatory attacks, with state media reporting strikes on U.S. military facilities and assets in Bahrain and Kuwait. Iranian officials also claimed attacks were carried out against vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian authorities warned that the strategic waterway would remain closed, threatening action against any ship attempting to transit through it. However, U.S. Central Command maintained that commercial vessels were still moving through the area.
The latest escalation has triggered fresh concerns over global energy supplies, with oil prices rising amid uncertainty over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for international oil and gas shipments.
Meanwhile, Kuwait temporarily shut its airspace and Bahrain issued air raid alerts as regional governments moved to strengthen security measures.
The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the worsening crisis, urging all parties to exercise restraint and return to negotiations.
UN Secretary General António Guterres warned that the conflict risks pulling the region deeper into instability and called for an immediate diplomatic resolution to prevent further escalation.
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