Washington/Tehran: The military confrontation between the United States and Iran intensified on Wednesday as both countries exchanged fresh strikes across the Gulf, while Washington strengthened its campaign to restrict Iranian maritime activity and approved new defence deals with regional allies.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had carried out operations targeting military assets allegedly linked to threats against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. In a separate operation, the US military said one of its aircraft disabled an oil tanker that was reportedly attempting to reach Iranian ports despite the ongoing naval restrictions. According to American officials, the vessel was rendered inoperable after precision munitions struck its exhaust system.
Iran responded with a series of military actions across the region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for attacks directed at the US Fifth Fleet’s operational area in Bahrain, where air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming projectiles. Jordanian authorities also confirmed that several missiles entering its airspace were successfully intercepted.
Tehran further claimed that its air defence units had shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over southwestern Iran, describing it as another demonstration of the country’s defensive capabilities. The claim has not been independently verified.
Elsewhere in the region, Kurdish security officials reported that coalition forces intercepted multiple explosive drones near Erbil in northern Iraq. Loud explosions were heard close to the US diplomatic compound, although no injuries or significant damage were reported.
Amid the escalating conflict, the US State Department approved potential defence sales worth more than $2.4 billion to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The proposed packages include precision-guided weapon systems, aircraft maintenance support, training programmes and logistical assistance, subject to congressional approval.
US President Donald Trump indicated that military operations could continue unless Tehran returns to negotiations. While he suggested that Iran had expressed interest in reviving diplomatic engagement, he also warned of stronger military action if talks fail to produce results.
Iranian officials, however, questioned the future of the recently negotiated memorandum of understanding, arguing that continued military pressure had undermined the agreement’s credibility. Senior Iranian leaders maintained that any diplomatic framework must provide tangible benefits for Tehran.
Despite the military escalation, humanitarian developments emerged after Iran released an American citizen who had been detained since 2024, a move President Trump described as a goodwill gesture.
The renewed confrontation continues to centre on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest energy corridors through which nearly one-fifth of global oil shipments pass. Reduced shipping activity in the strategic waterway has pushed global crude prices higher and renewed concerns over energy security and international trade as tensions in the Gulf continue to mount.
