DUBAI: Iran launched coordinated attacks on United States military infrastructure across the Gulf on Thursday in retaliation for fresh US airstrikes on its southern and eastern provinces, marking a major escalation that has pushed a fragile three-week-old ceasefire to the brink of collapse.
Iranian state media reported multiple explosions across southern Iran, including in Bushehr, home to one of the country’s nuclear power plants, as well as Bandar Abbas, Konarak, and Choghadak, following the latest wave of US military operations. The US military did not immediately comment on the reported explosions.
How did the latest escalation unfold?
The renewed confrontation came hours after Iranian armed forces launched missile and drone attacks targeting US military facilities in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan in response to recent American strikes.
Iran’s army said it had targeted US Patriot missile systems in Kuwait, an early-warning facility in Qatar and a US Army fuel depot in Bahrain. Kuwait confirmed intercepting cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and drones over its airspace, with one person injured by falling debris.
Jordan also activated air defence systems after detecting incoming Iranian missiles, intercepting eight projectiles without casualties or damage. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later claimed responsibility for launching ballistic missiles at Jordan’s Azraq military base, which hosts US forces.
What happened in the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards accused the United States of interfering with commercial shipping and warned that any further military intervention would trigger a “crushing response.”
The Guards said vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had recovered to only around 50 percent of pre-war levels and stressed that ships would be permitted to transit only through routes approved by Tehran.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes, remains one of the most strategically important maritime chokepoints, with continued disruptions threatening global energy markets.
What happened during Khamenei’s funeral?
The latest escalation coincided with the funeral of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was buried at a shrine in Mashhad following days of nationwide mourning.
Large crowds gathered for the burial ceremony, with demonstrators carrying banners condemning the United States and President Donald Trump amid heightened anti-American sentiment.
Khamenei was killed in a US airstrike on February 28 during the opening phase of the conflict, which rapidly expanded into a prolonged regional war.
What damage did the latest strikes cause?
Iranian officials said US attacks carried out on July 8 and 9 killed at least 14 people and injured 78 others across five provinces.
The semi-official Fars News Agency reported that one US strike destroyed a railway bridge used for trade with Russia and China, while local authorities confirmed that a US projectile struck the perimeter of the Bushehr nuclear facility, though no damage to the reactor itself was reported.
How has the international community reacted?
Qatar condemned attacks on commercial shipping while urging all parties to return to diplomacy. Turkey and Oman also called for restraint during separate conversations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Araqchi, in a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s army chief, accused Washington of pursuing “warmongering policies” and reiterated Tehran’s commitment to defending its sovereignty.
What has the United States said?
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed carrying out strikes on approximately 90 Iranian military targets, including missile storage facilities, air defence systems, coastal surveillance sites and drone infrastructure.
President Donald Trump described the operation as retaliation for attacks on commercial shipping, warning that further Iranian aggression would provoke an even stronger military response.
Despite the escalation, Trump said he did not expect the latest exchanges to develop into a full-scale regional war, insisting that any further confrontation would be brief and would ultimately enhance security in the Gulf.
Asked whether the US-Iran memorandum of understanding remained in effect, Trump said he believed the agreement was effectively over and signalled little interest in reviving negotiations.