The United States and Iran exchanged strikes for a seventh consecutive night, targeting infrastructure and military sites as their confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz escalated. With an interim ceasefire collapsed and peace prospects dim, the conflict that began over four months ago shows no signs of resolution.
US Targets Iranian Military Capabilities
US Central Command reported early Saturday that its latest round of strikes hit “surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities.” The strikes mark the seventh straight night of US operations against Iranian assets.
Iran responded with a warning, announcing that two oil tankers attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz had been set on fire. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Navy (IRGC-N) stated, “The movements and equipment of the American terrorist army are under the supervision of the naval units of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The IRGC added, “Americans are getting closer to the zero hour for operations against [US Central Command] naval units in the region’s waters.”
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz
Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping after the war began on February 28, causing oil prices to surge and giving Tehran significant leverage in negotiations. The IRGC warned vessels on a Telegram board, “Vessels should not be deceived and enter the mined route to preserve their capital and, more importantly, their lives.”
Kuwait reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones, while Iraq said it shot down attack drones over the city of Irbil. Jordan’s state-run Petra news agency confirmed its air defense systems downed Iranian missiles, and air sirens sounded in Bahrain, according to the government there.
Casualties and Political Pressure
Iranian officials stated that recent US strikes have killed dozens and wounded hundreds. On Friday, Iran acknowledged attacks on power infrastructure for the first time, with its Energy Ministry urging reduced electricity use in southern provinces “experiencing extreme heat.” The ministry did not specify what was hit.
Iranian authorities reported at least 46 killed and over 400 wounded in recent US strikes, including eight killed in a strike on a bridge on Friday. The US military acknowledged 13 additional service members injured since Monday—10 army soldiers and three navy sailors—but offered no further details. Since the war began, 14 US service members have been killed and 427 wounded.
In an address to the American public on Thursday, US President Donald Trump insisted the war was progressing well. “We are likewise winning big in Iran, and you will see the fruits of that labour very, very shortly,” he said, facing political pressure to end the conflict and avoid a prolonged Middle East war he had campaigned against.
