The United States has carried out a fresh round of military strikes against Iranian targets, marking the second direct attack in three days and deepening concerns over the stability of global energy supplies and maritime trade routes in the Middle East.
According to the US Central Command (Centcom), American forces struck a military site in Bandar Abbas, Iran’s strategic port city near the Strait of Hormuz, after identifying preparations to launch attack drones.
Centcom said US forces also intercepted and destroyed four Iranian one-way attack drones that allegedly posed threats around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil and liquefied natural gas shipping corridors.
The latest escalation comes despite a fragile ceasefire and ongoing diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the three-month conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
In a statement, Centcom described the operation as “measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire,” insisting the strikes were conducted in self-defence.
Iranian state media reported explosions east of Bandar Abbas, while Tehran condemned the attacks as a “grave violation of the ceasefire” and warned that it would respond to any hostile action.
The renewed hostilities have intensified fears over disruptions to global energy trade, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG shipments normally transit.
The conflict has already reduced commercial tanker traffic in the region and contributed to heightened volatility in global energy markets.
Earlier this week, the US confirmed separate strikes targeting Iranian missile installations and vessels allegedly attempting to lay naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington has also imposed sanctions on the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, the Iranian entity responsible for collecting fees from ships using the waterway. The US Treasury Department warned that vessels making payments to the authority could face secondary sanctions.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the fee collection system as “an attempt to extort global maritime trade,” accusing Tehran of using strategic waterways as leverage during negotiations.
Iran defended the charges, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stating that Tehran was merely collecting payments for “navigational services” and would continue overseeing maritime traffic through the Strait.
Regional tensions have spread beyond Iran, with Kuwait’s military announcing that its air defence systems intercepted unspecified missile and drone threats on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had downed a US drone and fired on another drone and a fighter jet that allegedly entered Iranian airspace.
US President Donald Trump signalled that negotiations with Tehran remain unresolved, warning that Washington could resume broader military operations if a deal is not reached.
“Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal,” Trump said during a cabinet meeting. “So far, they haven’t gotten there and we’re not satisfied with it.”
He added that the US may need to “finish the job” if diplomatic efforts fail.
The latest developments underscore growing geopolitical risks in the Gulf region, with investors and energy traders closely monitoring the impact on crude oil prices, LNG shipments, and maritime insurance costs.
The conflict began on 28 February following coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and has since evolved into a broader regional security crisis involving threats to shipping lanes and escalating military exchanges.
Source: BBC
