US and Iran Exchange Strikes as Conflict Escalates
The United States and Iran have traded a fresh round of military strikes, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing conflict. The US military said it launched a new wave of attacks against Iran, targeting command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems. The stated goal was to further degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil supplies.
The strikes, which the US military said lasted about five hours, follow the deaths of at least three US soldiers in recent days. US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would pay "many times over" for every American soldier killed, and he declared that the ceasefire with Iran was no longer valid.
In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted US radar and air defense installations in the Gulf, as well as sites in Bahrain, Jordan, and Syria. The Guards also said they had attacked and stopped two "non-compliant oil tankers" attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported that two oil tankers exploded while crossing the strait, but the US Central Command disputed those claims.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is now engaged in a "full-scale war" with the United States. "We must be realistic and accept the natural consequences of this resistance," he said, according to a presidency statement.
Despite the ongoing hostilities, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said diplomatic exchanges with the United States via mediators were ongoing. "Ideas have been conveyed to us by certain mediators," he said.
Wider Regional Impact
The conflict has spread across the region. Jordan's military said it shot down three Iranian missiles, while Kuwait's armed forces said they had intercepted Iranian drones. Bahrain reported that drones launched by Iran had targeted its air navigation systems, though traffic remained unaffected. In Yemen, Houthi rebels announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, adding a new layer to the regional instability.
US strikes hit several Iranian cities, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr, and Bandar Imam Khomeini, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. In Bushehr, home to Iran's only operational civilian nuclear power plant, the governor said several locations were hit by American projectiles. In East Azerbaijan province, local authorities reported one person killed and several others injured.
Military and Diplomatic Dynamics
Analysts point out that the conflict is taking a heavy toll. The US claimed its intense 38-day spring bombing campaign with Israel had destroyed or decimated Iran's military, with President Trump telling Fox News that Iran's weapons are "down 91%." However, leaked US intelligence assessments concluded that Iran had regained access to 30 out of 33 missile launch sites along the Strait of Hormuz and perhaps 70% of its overall prewar missile stockpile and launchers.
Experts cited by the Financial Times say Iran has maintained the combat capability of its missile forces and adapted to new conditions after five months of US strikes. Iranian engineers reportedly managed to quickly restore underground facilities after bombings. Former CIA military analyst Jim Lamson said recent strikes on US bases in Jordan demonstrate Iran's ability to penetrate US and Arab missile defenses. "It seems that in Jordan they [Iranian forces] have been able to get increased penetration of missile defences and increased accuracy for their medium-range ballistic missiles," he said.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported, citing sources, that the Pentagon is increasing the number of military aircraft in the Middle East. However, a US official cautioned that the expansion would be limited by dwindling stockpiles of air defense and long-range munitions, as well as constraints on surging more troops and aircraft due to battle damage. "We do not have enough to safely sustain operations," the official said.