The United States carried out another overnight wave of military strikes on Iran, marking the latest escalation in a conflict that is increasingly threatening global energy supplies and maritime trade.
According to US Central Command, the operation concluded shortly before dawn local time and was aimed at weakening Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in regional waters.
Washington said, "The campaign forms part of wider efforts to secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors.”
The latest military action came as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The reported incidents have heightened fears that the conflict is expanding beyond the Gulf, placing additional pressure on two of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
Iranian state media also reported explosions in several locations, including Qeshm and Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz, as well as areas further inland.
Initial reports suggested at least two people were injured, although the extent of the damage remains unclear.
The worsening security situation has rattled energy markets. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, climbed by more than six per cent to around $100 a barrel, its highest level in months, as traders reacted to growing concerns over disruptions to global oil supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz normally handles around one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments, while the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a vital gateway for trade between Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal. Disruptions in both waterways have raised fresh concerns over the resilience of global supply chains.
US President Donald Trump warned that any further attacks by the Houthis would bring a stronger military response and said Washington would continue to hold Iran responsible for supporting the group.
Diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions have continued alongside the military exchanges. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi travelled to Tehran for talks aimed at encouraging dialogue and reducing the risk of further escalation.
His office said, “Iraq would not allow anyone to use its territory for attacks against Iran.”
Speaking at the United Nations Security Council, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the Middle East risked being drawn into a broader regional confrontation.
He urged all parties to pursue diplomacy, describing negotiations as the only sustainable path to preventing further instability.
Meanwhile, maritime security agencies reported fresh incidents involving commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The Houthis said that they had targeted the Saudi-linked oil tankers Encelia and Layla, claiming both vessels caught fire. Saudi authorities confirmed an overnight attack on one tanker, while British maritime officials said a commercial vessel had been struck by an unidentified projectile off the Saudi coast.
Shipping analysts said, "The attacks could significantly increase pressure on global oil logistics. Saudi Arabia has already redirected substantial volumes of crude exports through its Red Sea terminal at Yanbu to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.”
Any sustained threat to shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb would narrow alternative export routes and increase transport expenses.
The military confrontation has continued to intensify. Iran has accused the United States of targeting civilian infrastructure and warned it would respond proportionately to further attacks.
The US has insisted that its operations focus on protecting freedom of navigation and commercial shipping.
Iran’s health ministry said, "Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds injured since renewed US air strikes began in late June.”
At the same time, Tehran has targeted energy facilities and desalination plants in neighbouring Gulf states, adding further strain to regional infrastructure.
The conflict has also generated political debate in Washington. A resolution calling for an end to US military involvement narrowly passed in the House of Representatives, reflecting growing concern over the economic and strategic costs of a prolonged confrontation, although the measure carries limited legal effect.
With military operations continuing and attacks affecting both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, analysts warn that the outlook for global energy markets remains highly uncertain.
Any prolonged disruption to these vital shipping lanes could place further upward pressure on oil prices and complicate efforts to stabilise international trade.
