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WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: Tensions between the United States and Iran have sharply escalated after Washington launched strikes against Iranian targets following a ballistic missile attack on a US military base in Jordan. US Central Command said its forces began the strikes at around 8pm Eastern Time on Wednesday. CENTCOM described the operation as a “powerful response” to attempted attacks against American forces in the Middle East. The strikes came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for operations targeting US military assets in Jordan. The IRGC said it had targeted an airbase and a command centre. US President Donald Trump had earlier warned that Iran would face a strong military response. Trump said the United States would hit Iran “very hard” after the attack, despite reports that US forces had intercepted the missiles. The latest developments have raised fears of a wider regional conflict. Military activity has also been reported across southern Iran. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported explosions in Bushehr province, home to the country’s only nuclear power plant. Several explosions were also reported on Qeshm Island. Iranian media said a missile may have struck a residential area, although details about casualties were not immediately available. Other explosions were reported at several locations in southern Iran following the launch of the US operation. The conflict has also intensified around Iraq. Baghdad condemned US and Saudi strikes that reportedly killed members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces. The group said at least 20 of its fighters were killed and 32 others were wounded. Iranian media separately reported that four Iranian advisers were killed in the strikes. The situation around the Strait of Hormuz has also become increasingly tense. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said its naval forces targeted three oil tankers that were allegedly approaching the strategic waterway using routes not approved by Tehran. Iran has rejected an Omani proposal concerning shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has also discussed imposing charges on vessels using the strategically important passage. Iranian officials have insisted that mine-clearing operations in the waterway should be carried out by Iranian forces. Tehran has warned that any European involvement could turn those forces into potential targets. The latest escalation comes only days after Trump said Washington was holding what he described as positive talks with Iran. He had also warned that military action could resume if Tehran failed to show seriousness in negotiations. Analysts have warned that continued retaliation could create a dangerous cycle of escalation. They say repeated strikes could eventually expand beyond military targets and increase the risk to civilians and critical infrastructure.

BAGHDAD: Iraq has rejected allegations that its territory was used to launch attacks against Saudi Arabia and has called for evidence to support the claims. A spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces said no country or organisation had presented proof that attacks on Saudi Arabia originated from Iraqi soil. The spokesperson said Iraq remained committed to protecting its sovereignty and preventing its territory from being used to threaten neighbouring countries. He added that the government was implementing measures to strengthen national security and maintain full control over the country’s borders and military activities. The statement came after reports linked Iraq to attacks on Saudi Arabia, increasing tensions in an already volatile region. Following recent US and Saudi military strikes inside Iraq, the Iraqi National Security Council convened an emergency meeting to assess the security situation. During the meeting, the council condemned the attacks and described them as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. Officials stressed that all hostile actions carried out on Iraqi territory were unacceptable. The council said the Iraqi government alone has the authority to decide how to respond to any attacks launched from within the country. It warned against any unilateral military action that could further destabilise the region. The office of Iraqi Prime Minister also issued a statement reaffirming Baghdad’s policy of keeping Iraq out of regional conflicts. The statement said the government would continue to pursue diplomatic and legal measures to protect the country’s sovereignty, security and political stability. The latest developments follow joint US and Saudi air strikes targeting locations believed to be used by Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The strikes were reportedly carried out in response to drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. According to the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the attacks targeted its headquarters and facilities across seven Iraqi provinces. The group said at least 20 of its personnel were killed, while another 32 were injured in the air strikes. It added that the heaviest attack took place in Nineveh province, where 10 fighters lost their lives. The military action has further raised concerns about growing instability in the region and the possibility of wider confrontation involving regional and international powers.

Iran has vowed to retaliate after the United States launched fresh overnight air strikes on multiple locations across the country, further escalating the conflict that has increasingly drawn several Middle Eastern nations into the fighting. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a strong warning, saying those responsible for the attacks would face punishment. Iranian media quoted the force as saying that the “aggressor” would be held accountable. The latest US strikes reportedly targeted several areas in southern Iran, including Bushehr province, which is home to the country’s only nuclear power plant. Explosions were also reported in Qeshm, Kish, Bandar Abbas, Abadan and other nearby locations. Iranian officials said a residential building on Qeshm Island was struck during the attacks. Local authorities confirmed that three members of the same family, including a child, were killed. Two other children from the same family were injured and shifted to hospital for treatment. The US military said the strikes were launched in response to recent Iranian missile attacks targeting American forces stationed in Jordan. Washington described the operation as a powerful response aimed at deterring further attacks on its troops in the region. The military action came shortly after US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face severe consequences following attacks on American military facilities. Meanwhile, Jordan said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed five Iranian missiles heading toward its territory. Officials said this was the fourth consecutive day that missiles or drones launched from Iran had been intercepted. No casualties or property damage were reported. Iran also strongly condemned recent joint US-Saudi air strikes carried out in Iraq. Tehran described the attacks as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It accused Washington of widening the regional conflict and expressed support for the Iraqi government. The Iraqi government also criticised the strikes and called on all parties to avoid further escalation. Iraqi officials stressed that the country should not become a battleground for regional disputes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was difficult to predict Iran’s next moves regarding the Strait of Hormuz. However, he argued that alternative energy routes could eventually reduce the strategic importance of the vital shipping lane. The United Nations expressed deep concern over the renewed fighting. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both the United States and Iran to end hostilities and return to diplomatic negotiations. He also welcomed mediation efforts by regional countries seeking to reduce tensions. The IRGC claimed that two oil tankers attempting to sail through what it described as an unauthorised route in the Strait of Hormuz turned back after a fire reportedly broke out on one vessel. Iranian officials insisted the country maintained control over the strategic waterway and warned that restrictions would remain as long as foreign military threats continued. The United Arab Emirates also condemned drone attacks targeting Saudi oil facilities from Iraqi territory, calling them a serious violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to regional security. The conflict has expanded rapidly over recent days, with military activity reported in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and the Gulf region. The growing instability has increased concerns over regional security and disrupted global energy markets. Oil prices climbed sharply as investors reacted to fears of further escalation and possible disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy trade routes.

The conflict between Iran and the United States intensified on Thursday after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it destroyed three US F-35 fighter jets during a missile attack on Jordan’s al-Azraq airbase, a key facility used by American forces. According to the IRGC, the attack was carried out in retaliation for a US strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island that allegedly killed members of a civilian family. Iranian officials claimed several ballistic missiles struck aircraft maintenance facilities at the base, destroying three F-35 fighter jets and severely damaging three others. The IRGC also alleged that several US military personnel and technical staff were killed in the attack. No independent confirmation of these claims has been provided by US or Jordanian authorities. The latest exchange came after the United States launched fresh overnight strikes targeting multiple locations in Iran, including Bushehr, Qeshm, Bandar Abbas, Kish and Abadan. Iranian media reported that residential areas on Qeshm Island were hit, killing three members of one family and injuring two children. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also announced that three of their personnel were killed in separate US missile attacks, vowing retaliation against what they described as American aggression. Meanwhile, Jordan said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed five Iranian missiles heading toward its territory, marking the fourth consecutive day of missile interceptions. Authorities reported no casualties or damage. Iraq also sought to distance itself from the growing conflict. A military spokesperson stated there was no evidence that recent regional attacks had been launched from Iraqi territory, while stressing that only official security forces would be responsible for the country’s defence and security. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said discussions with Omani officials aimed at reducing tensions remain ongoing in Tehran. Iranian officials blamed the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and disruptions to global shipping on US and Israeli military operations, insisting that foreign military actions had created instability in one of the world’s most important energy corridors. The IRGC also claimed two oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz turned back after a fire broke out on one vessel. The group warned the strategic waterway would remain closed while military pressure against Iran continued. Elsewhere, Iran condemned recent US and Saudi air strikes inside Iraq, calling them violations of Iraqi sovereignty and international law. The attacks reportedly targeted Iran-aligned groups operating in the country. The United Nations expressed growing concern over the escalating hostilities. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to end military operations immediately and return to diplomatic negotiations, warning that continued escalation could further destabilise the Middle East.

TEHRAN: Iran has warned that continued US pressure in regional waters could force the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and other strategic maritime routes, as military and diplomatic tensions across the Middle East continue to intensify. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said continued US actions in the region could have serious consequences for global shipping and energy supplies. According to Iranian state media, he warned that any further escalation could affect not only the Strait of Hormuz but also other key maritime chokepoints. He said such developments would have a significant impact on the global economy, international energy markets and trade, while also increasing political pressure within the United States. Meanwhile, Kuwait announced that its air defence systems intercepted drones launched from Iran early Saturday. The Kuwaiti military said the drones were successfully engaged before causing damage and confirmed that no casualties or destruction had been reported. Residents were advised to follow official safety instructions as authorities monitored the situation. In Yemen, the Houthi movement denied reports that it planned to charge commercial vessels for passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The group’s Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center said no decision had been taken to impose transit fees and stressed that safe passage through the waterway remained free. The Houthis also urged shipping companies not to make payments to unauthorised individuals claiming to represent Yemeni authorities. The clarification came after reports suggested the group was considering introducing charges following its declaration of a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia. Separately, the Houthis claimed that eight Saudi oil tankers had been forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope instead of using the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The group said the diversions were a result of its maritime blockade, although the claim has not been independently verified. Maritime security concerns also increased after a commercial tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile near the coast of Oman. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the projectile damaged the vessel’s engine room, leaving it unable to manoeuvre. No casualties or environmental damage were reported, while an investigation into the incident is underway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is working with Oman to establish practical mechanisms for managing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. During a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Araghchi said outside interference would only worsen the regional situation and complicate efforts to maintain maritime stability. The British foreign secretary reiterated London’s support for diplomacy and said the United Kingdom was not involved in any war with Iran. He stressed that dialogue remained the best path to reducing tensions in the region. Meanwhile, reports from US media suggested that Washington and Israel are considering possible strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure. According to the reports, discussions have focused on targeting energy facilities if diplomatic efforts fail. However, no final decision has been officially announced. Iranian officials responded by warning that the country has prepared plans to retaliate against any future military action targeting its territory. They said any attack would receive a strong response against strategic interests in the region.