The fragile calm that followed last month’s US-Iran agreement has collapsed, with both sides launching fresh military operations that have reignited tensions across the Middle East.
As fighting enters its sixth day, the strategic Strait of Hormuz has once again become the center of the conflict, raising fears over regional security and global energy supplies.
US Launches New Military Operation Against Iranian Targets
The United States carried out coordinated strikes on multiple Iranian military sites on Thursday, targeting locations that Washington says were being used to threaten international shipping.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces struck military facilities in Bandar Abbas, along Iran’s southern coastline, as part of an operation designed to reduce Tehran’s ability to disrupt maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM also confirmed earlier attacks on coastal defense systems and cruise missile positions located on Greater Tunb Island, describing the operation as necessary to protect commercial vessels navigating one of the world’s busiest energy corridors.
Explosions Reported Across Iran
Iranian state media reported explosions in several parts of the country following the American strikes.
The official IRNA news agency said blasts were heard in Lorestan province in western Iran and Semnan in the north, while air defense systems were activated around parts of the capital, Tehran, as authorities responded to the incoming attacks.
The renewed bombardment marked another escalation in a conflict that appeared to ease only weeks ago after diplomatic efforts produced a preliminary agreement.
Gulf Nations Brace for Retaliation
Iran’s response quickly spread beyond its borders, with several US allies in the Gulf reporting aerial threats shortly after the American operation.
Kuwait announced that its air defenses intercepted Iranian drones entering its airspace, while neighboring Bahrain activated air raid sirens as residents prepared for possible attacks.
The growing regional involvement has heightened concerns that the conflict could expand further, drawing additional countries into the confrontation.
Strait of Hormuz Returns to the Center of the Conflict
The renewed military exchanges have once again focused global attention on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas is transported.
Iran initially blocked access to the strait after the conflict erupted on February 28 following US and Israeli military action.
Although maritime traffic briefly resumed after June’s agreement between Washington and Tehran, Iranian leaders later warned that the passage would remain closed until what they described as US aggression came to an end.
Shipping activity has remained well below normal levels, with maritime tracking company Kpler recording only 21 vessel transits on Tuesday.
The reduced traffic has contributed to renewed increases in global oil prices.
Iran Claims Drone Strike on US Facilities
Iran’s military announced that it had carried out drone attacks against American military installations in Jordan, describing the operation as retaliation for the latest US airstrikes.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that the attacks were intended as a direct response to what Tehran called enemy aggression.
Meanwhile, the US military disclosed that one of its aircraft disabled an unmanned oil tanker that had attempted to breach the naval blockade surrounding Iranian ports.
Iraq Reports Drone Activity Near US Consulate
The conflict also spilled into neighboring Iraq, where Kurdish security forces said the US-led coalition intercepted eight drones carrying explosive payloads over Erbil.
Journalists in the city reported hearing multiple explosions while smoke was seen rising near the US consulate.
Although Iraq’s prime minister condemned the drone attack, officials stopped short of identifying who launched the aircraft.
Diplomatic Contacts Continue Despite Escalation
Even as military operations intensify, diplomatic communication between Washington and Tehran has not completely broken down.
US President Donald Trump warned that Iran faced even more severe consequences if negotiations failed to resume, saying additional strikes could target major infrastructure, including power stations and bridges.
Iran, however, questioned the value of continuing talks under current conditions.
Senior negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf argued that agreements only remain meaningful when all parties uphold their commitments.
He warned that Tehran would have little reason to honor the memorandum of understanding if it no longer delivered benefits for Iran.
Civilians Describe Growing Fear
The renewed violence has left civilians across the region increasingly anxious.
In Iran, Khadijeh, a 31-year-old artisan from Qasr-e Shirin, described children struggling to sleep because of the constant sound of explosions.
She said many families fear that a prolonged war could leave lasting damage for generations.
Residents in Gulf states facing repeated drone alerts expressed similar concerns.
Mustafa Mohamed, a Sudanese accountant living in Kuwait, said each morning begins with uncertainty as people wonder whether the conflict will calm down or escalate further.
Humanitarian Concerns Continue to Rise
Iranian officials say the latest round of US attacks has caused mounting casualties.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani stated that at least 30 people have been killed since the renewed American offensive began last week.
Separately, Iran’s military confirmed that nine service members died during Wednesday’s strikes in the country’s southeast.
State media also reported that a hospital in Ahvaz was evacuated after nearby airstrikes, with patients transferred to other medical facilities as emergency services responded.
American Detainee Released
Amid the renewed hostilities, there was one rare diplomatic breakthrough.
President Trump announced that an American citizen, identified by her attorney as Dena Karari, had left Iran safely after being detained there since December 2024.
Describing the development as a gesture of goodwill, Trump thanked Iran for facilitating her release, even as military operations between the two countries continued to intensify.
