The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered fresh concerns over global energy markets, threatening fuel supplies and increasing the risk of significant disruption to international oil trade after renewed fighting between the United States and Iran ended a fragile peace agreement reached only last month.
The latest escalation has intensified fears over global energy security because the Strait of Hormuz carries around 20 per cent of the world's oil exports. Iranian authorities have shut the strategic waterway to international shipping, saying it will remain closed until the United States halts its military campaign. The move has raised concerns over potential supply shortages, higher transport costs and increased volatility across global fuel markets.
The conflict intensified on Thursday evening when US forces launched another round of airstrikes across Iran, marking the sixth consecutive night of attacks on Iranian military targets.
The latest hostilities follow a conflict that began in late February with large-scale strikes by the United States and Israel. Although both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire in June that briefly reopened shipping lanes through the Gulf, that agreement has now collapsed. The United States has reinstated a strict blockade on Iranian ports, and the US military said it had intercepted and redirected three vessels in the Gulf of Oman.
Iranian state media reported explosions in Bushehr, home to the country's only civilian nuclear power plant, and in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. Additional strikes reportedly targeted bridges and an airport near Ahvaz, forcing the evacuation of a local hospital.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said at least 30 people had been killed during the latest week of US attacks.
Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles at a US airbase in Jordan, signalling a widening regional confrontation. Kuwait said it had intercepted several Iranian drones, while Bahrain activated air raid sirens as a precaution amid growing security concerns across the Gulf.
The conflict has also been accompanied by escalating threats against critical infrastructure. US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face more severe consequences if it refused to return to negotiations, saying the United States could target the country's power grid and bridges. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Donald Trump remained open to peace talks but would not tolerate attacks on commercial shipping.
Iranian military leaders warned they would retaliate against infrastructure across the region if the United States targeted Iranian power facilities. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has also been involved in negotiations, said the peace agreement was meaningless if its terms were not respected.
The renewed conflict has heightened concerns over the security of global oil supplies at a time when the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most critical energy corridors. A prolonged closure could disrupt crude exports from major Gulf producers, tighten fuel availability, increase pressure on electricity generation in energy-importing countries and drive governments to reassess fuel subsidies and emergency supply policies.
Regional efforts to restore dialogue are continuing. Pakistan, which played a role in brokering last month's peace agreement, has urged both sides to end hostilities and resume negotiations. However, with one of the world's most important oil trade routes blocked by military activity, analysts warn that an extended disruption could trigger a serious global fuel shortage and further instability across international energy markets.
