The United States has fired Hellfire missiles at an unladen oil tanker attempting to reach Kharg Island in the Strait of Hormuz, part of a blockade on Iranian ports. The attack came as Tehran was hit for the first time in the latest round of strikes, with air defences reported active over the capital early on Thursday.
Iran retaliated by launching attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait, though there was no immediate word on damage or casualties. Iranian officials say the recent US strikes have killed more than 35 people and wounded over 300.
The escalation follows the apparent collapse of a ceasefire between the two sides, raising fears of a return to full-scale war. The US military said it was targeting Iranian capabilities used to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international waterway.
Iranian media reported strikes near Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Qeshm. Iran has threatened to halt all energy exports from the Middle East, warning that “regional energy exports are either shared by all or denied to all.” Oil prices have risen, with Brent crude trading above $85 a barrel.
US President Donald Trump claimed Iran would be “defeated soon” and suggested widening attacks to include “Pickaxe Mountain,” a facility linked to Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran’s chief negotiator warned that a recent memorandum of understanding could only hold if its clauses were implemented, stating that reopening the Strait of Hormuz depends on US compliance.
