Iran intensified its military campaign against the United States and its regional allies over the weekend, launching missile and drone attacks on U.S. facilities across the Gulf while announcing it had once again closed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
However, the U.S. Central Command has since challenged the statement, posting on X that “The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Iran does not control it”.
The latest barrage marked a significant escalation in the conflict, as Tehran expanded both the pace and geographic scope of its attacks in a bid to reinforce its control over shipping through the waterway.
Among the new targets was Qatar, which has acted as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations and had not been attacked since April.
The United Arab Emirates, which had avoided strikes since early May, also said its air defences intercepted Iranian missiles and drones.
The U.S. military responded by launching a fresh wave of strikes against Iranian targets from 5 pm ET on Sunday.
U.S. Central Command said in a post on X that the operation was intended “to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz”.
The renewed hostilities have cast further doubt over the future of the interim U.S.-Iran agreement reached last month, which aimed to reopen the strait and end the conflict following a further 60 days of negotiations.
In recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump has declared the June ceasefire effectively over, while continuing to leave open the possibility of renewed diplomatic talks.
The conflict, which began after the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran on 28 February, has destabilised the Gulf region, with Tehran repeatedly targeting countries hosting U.S. military bases.
Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed global energy prices higher, raising concerns over renewed inflationary pressures.
Higher fuel prices, particularly petrol, are expected to become an increasingly sensitive political issue for Trump ahead of November's congressional elections.
Iran has sought to establish a permanent system for collecting transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz, which handled around one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the conflict.
Tehran has warned vessels not to transit the waterway without its authorisation.
Iran said late on Saturday it had closed the strait after firing a warning shot that struck a vessel travelling along what it described as an unauthorised route. On Sunday, it said it had disabled a second vessel.
India said one of its nationals was missing following an attack on the container ship GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman.
Omani authorities said 23 crew members had been rescued, while Qatar advised all vessels, including leisure craft, fishing boats and jet skis, to suspend operations.
According to Reuters, Iran's newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority said on Sunday that passage through the waterway was no longer possible because of "recent illegal movements of the United States military forces in the region".
It added that permits would be issued "as soon as stability and calm are restored".
Despite the heightened security risks, the U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center reiterated that an "expanded" southern route near Oman remained available for two-way maritime traffic.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had responded by destroying a command-and-control centre and drone hangars in Jordan, targeting a U.S. radar installation and rocket launcher systems in Kuwait, attacking U.S. aircraft carrier support and refuelling platforms in Oman, and destroying a jet maintenance centre and command facility in Qatar.
Qatar said three people, including a child, were injured by falling shrapnel and declared Iran was "fully legally responsible" for the attack.
The United Arab Emirates said it detected missile threats outside its borders, while Bahrain reported intercepting several Iranian aerial attacks. Jordan confirmed missile strikes, Oman reported drone attacks, and Kuwait said strikes had damaged infrastructure, including an oil drilling platform where one worker was injured.
Oman also summoned Iran's ambassador to protest drone attacks in two regions, while the U.S. Embassy in Oman advised American nationals in Duqm and Musandam to shelter in place.
Meanwhile, Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Baqher Ghalibaf, posted on X on Sunday: "The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking."
