TEHRAN: Tensions in the Middle East intensified on Tuesday after Iran claimed responsibility for attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States carried out a tenth consecutive night of airstrikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a tanker came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later claimed responsibility for the attack and said it had also targeted two other ships in the strategic waterway a day earlier.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its latest air campaign was aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to threaten international shipping. According to the U.S. military, the strikes targeted military command facilities, missile launch sites, and drone infrastructure.
Iranian media reported explosions and airstrikes in several areas, including Bandar Abbas, Tabriz, and Bushehr, home to Iran’s only operational civilian nuclear power plant.
Houthis Announce Maritime Blockade
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement announced the immediate implementation of a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea following recent military exchanges between the two sides.
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A Houthi official said the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, would be closed to Saudi-linked shipping in response to what the group described as the Kingdom’s long-standing blockade of Yemen.
Saudi Arabia responded by saying it would take “all necessary measures” to protect its commercial vessels in accordance with international law.
Iran Says War Continues
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the country had returned to “full-scale war,” while Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni traveled to Pakistan for high-level talks. Pakistan is viewed as one of the regional countries maintaining diplomatic engagement with both sides during the crisis.
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The latest escalation came after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed that Iran would pay “many times over” following the deaths of several American service members in recent attacks.
Regional Tensions Continue to Rise
Iran also launched retaliatory attacks toward Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, countries that host U.S. military installations, according to Iranian claims. Independent verification of those claims was not immediately available.
In Lebanon, the Lebanese Armed Forces began assuming security responsibilities in three southern villages as part of efforts linked to a ceasefire arrangement involving Israel and Hezbollah.
Oil Markets React
Global energy markets remained volatile as investors monitored developments around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for international oil exports.
Brent crude traded around $88.87 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude remained near $82.47 per barrel, after both benchmarks had reached their highest levels in more than a month.
The escalating conflict continues to raise concerns over global energy security, regional stability, and the risk of a broader confrontation across the Middle East.
