Since the ceasefire collapsed last week, the conflict escalated
Iran renewed attacks on U.S. Gulf allies Saturday after a seventh consecutive night of U.S. strikes on Iranian military and logistics sites. The conflict escalated one week after the ceasefire collapsed.
Both sides targeted shipping. The U.S. said it was enforcing a naval blockade, while Iran claimed it targeted vessels violating its navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil supply.
Oil prices rose more than 4% on Friday to a one-month high, increasing political pressure on President Trump as the Republican Party seeks to maintain control in the November elections.
Since the ceasefire collapsed last week, Washington and Tehran have escalated tensions, raising the risk of renewed large-scale conflict.
U.S. Central Command reported its latest strikes targeted surveillance sites, logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime assets.
“U.S. forces employed fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships in addition to other assets,” Central Command said in a statement. “More than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.”
Conflicted reports
Iranian media reported on Saturday that missile strikes hit power facilities and desalination pumps in Jask, southern Iran, cutting off drinking water in nearby villages. Commercial vessels, one disabled and another boarded, were used to enforce its naval blockade of Iran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated they stopped four vessels from passing through the strait using a combined missile and drone operation, citing violations of shipping regulations.
Iranian media, citing the Revolutionary Guards, reported that two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after passing through a mined route south of the strait. The U.S. military denied this report.
Iran determine to block transit
Armed men seized another vessel off Yemen, heightening concerns about security at the Red Sea’s entrance, another key oil transit point.
Iran’s state television quoted the Revolutionary Guards, stating that until U.S. “aggression” ends, no chemical fertilizers or a “single drop of oil and gas” will be exported from the region. The leader warned on Friday against U.S. escalation or any attempt to seize Iranian territory.
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