The United States and Iran exchanged heavy missile and drone attacks on Sunday, with Tehran targeting US military facilities and Gulf states while declaring that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed to shipping.
The escalation followed several days of intensifying hostilities and attacks on commercial vessels, prompting US President Donald Trump to announce the collapse of a ceasefire intended to halt the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the strategic waterway would remain closed until what they described as the “end of US interference” in the region.
US Central Command disputed the claim, saying commercial vessels continued to pass through the strait, which carried around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the war.
US says hundreds of Iranian targets hit
US Central Command said American forces struck 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday, bringing the total to more than 300 targets over three nights of attacks.
The military said the operation was intended to weaken Iran’s ability to attack civilian vessels and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The targets included missile and drone facilities, naval assets, command centres, ammunition depots, communication networks and coastal surveillance positions.
Iranian state media reported explosions in several port cities following the strikes.
Iran expands attacks across Gulf
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting US facilities and allied states across the Gulf.
The Revolutionary Guards claimed to have destroyed a command centre and drone hangars in Jordan, struck a US radar installation in Kuwait and attacked aircraft carrier support and refuelling platforms in Oman.
Iran also said it hit a jet maintenance facility and a command centre in Qatar.
Qatar said three people, including a child, were injured by falling debris following the attack.
The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems intercepted missiles and drones launched from Iran, while warning sirens sounded in Bahrain and explosions were heard in Doha.
The UAE’s emergency authority later said missile threats detected earlier on Sunday had been outside the country’s borders.
Jordan’s state news agency reported that three missiles launched from Iran landed inside Jordanian territory, causing minor material damage but no casualties.
Oman said locations in the Musandam region were targeted by drones, without immediately reporting casualties.
Indian sailor missing after vessel attack
India said one of its nationals was missing after an attack on the commercial vessel GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman.
The Indian Foreign Ministry said 10 of the 11 Indian crew members aboard the vessel had been rescued.
The ministry condemned the attack and said efforts were continuing to locate the missing sailor.
Iran said it had struck a vessel travelling along an unauthorised route and later claimed to have disabled a second ship.
The attacks marked a significant expansion of Tehran’s campaign, both in frequency and geographic reach.
Iran had previously attacked Kuwait and Bahrain but had largely avoided targeting Qatar since early April and the UAE since early May.
The strike on Qatar was particularly significant because Doha has played a central role in attempts to mediate between Washington and Tehran.
Qatar has previously said it would not continue mediation while under attack.
Energy prices surge as war spreads
The widening conflict has destabilised the Gulf and disrupted global shipping, driving oil and gas prices sharply higher.
Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has increased fears of prolonged energy shortages and further global inflation.
Rising fuel prices are also politically sensitive for Trump ahead of congressional elections scheduled for November.
Iran warns US over broken agreement
The latest escalation has cast further doubt over an interim agreement signed by Washington and Tehran last month with the stated aim of ending the conflict.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, accused the United States of violating the agreement.
“The era of one-sided deals is over,” he wrote on X. “We told you: keep your word or pay the price.”
The United States revoked a licence allowing the sale of Iranian crude oil on Tuesday after Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under attack.
That decision triggered another round of retaliatory strikes between the two countries.
Iran has not formally claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks on commercial vessels, though analysts believe Tehran has used pressure on shipping routes to strengthen its negotiating position.
Diplomatic contacts continue
Despite the escalation, diplomatic contacts continued behind the scenes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi discussed the crisis with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, whose government has been involved in mediation efforts.
Araqchi also held talks in Oman on Saturday with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.
Iran said the discussions focused on maritime security, shipping arrangements and transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Legal and technical delegations from Iran and Oman also met, with a Qatari delegation reportedly taking part.
Oman said negotiations would continue at both political and technical levels.
The latest hostilities came one day after Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed revenge for the killing of his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the opening attacks of the war.
Iran’s new leader has not appeared publicly since the conflict began.