WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: The United States launched a ninth consecutive day of military strikes against Iran on Monday, while Tehran reported that two oil tankers had exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns over maritime security and global energy supplies.
The latest exchange comes as fighting between the two countries continues despite the collapse of an interim ceasefire agreement reached last month.
What did the United States say?
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had begun a new wave of strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The command did not provide operational details but said the attacks were intended to protect international maritime traffic through one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would continue military operations as long as Iran posed a threat to commercial vessels, while reiterating that the United States remained open to a diplomatic solution.
What did Iran report?
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that US missiles struck several locations, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also said it had launched strikes against what it described as a US special operations headquarters in Syria’s Al-Tanf area and targeted US military aircraft at Jordan’s Aqaba Airport with ballistic missiles.
Iranian state media additionally reported drone attacks on US military facilities in Kuwait.
What happened in the Strait of Hormuz?
The IRGC claimed that two oil tankers exploded and became immobilized while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. It alleged the vessels had been encouraged by the US military to use what it described as an unsafe route.
Reuters could not independently verify the incident, and Iranian authorities did not release details about the vessels, their crews or possible casualties.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report of a vessel on fire near the Omani coast but had not confirmed the cause.
What is the impact on regional security?
The continued hostilities have intensified concerns over the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil exports.
According to LSEG shipping data, four vessels transited the strait on Sunday, down from eight the previous day, reflecting heightened caution among commercial operators.
What is the latest on US casualties?
The US military said an American service member was killed in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance recovered from a downed Iranian attack drone.
The latest death brings the number of US military personnel killed since the conflict began to 17, while more than 420 have been reported wounded, according to the US military.