The U.S. military launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iranian coastal defense systems and missile sites on Wednesday, following an escalation in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump declared the interim ceasefire “over,” while Tehran threatened to shut off regional energy exports in retaliation for the renewed U.S. blockade.
U.S. Strikes and Naval Blockade Escalation
The conflict intensified this week as the U.S. military resumed a naval blockade of Iranian ports and conducted multiple waves of airstrikes. According to CNBC, U.S.
The U.S. military describes the campaign as a necessary measure to protect freedom of navigation. During a 90-minute wave of strikes on Wednesday, U.S. forces utilized precision munitions against cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island, Al Jazeera reported.
Retaliatory Attacks on U.S. Assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan
Iran has responded by targeting countries that host U.S. military bases. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have struck U.S. military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and hit early-warning radar at the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait.
For more on this story, see Iran launches wave of retaliatory strikes against US allies in Middle East.
Regional governments have confirmed intercepting incoming threats. Jordan’s military reported shooting down three Iranian ballistic missiles that entered its airspace, while Kuwaiti officials stated they were working to extinguish fires caused by the attacks. The Iranian government spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, alleged that more than 30 civilians have been killed in recent U.S. strikes across southern Iran, while a spokesperson for Iran’s Health Ministry, Hossein Kermanpour, stated that over 260 people have been injured.
Trump’s Threats Against Iranian Infrastructure
President Donald Trump has signaled a potential expansion of the military campaign if diplomatic negotiations fail.
“Next week comes the bridges. We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.”
This follows our earlier report, US Strikes Iran for Eighth Night; Iran Retaliates on Gulf Bases.
President Donald Trump, via CNBC
The rhetoric has prompted a fierce response from Tehran. An Iranian military spokesperson stated that if such threats are carried out, all regional infrastructure will be crushed under the steel blows of the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran
. Iranian officials have also declared the Strait of Hormuz an invincible red line
and threatened to close all other regional export corridors that benefit the U.S. and its allies.
Global Economic Impact and Oil Price Volatility
The conflict has caused significant fluctuations in global energy markets. With the Strait of Hormuz acting as a chokepoint for a substantial portion of the world’s oil and gas, shipping companies have begun avoiding the area. The Guardian reported that Brent crude futures jumped more than 5% earlier this week to close near $80 a barrel. As of July 16, Brent crude futures for September delivery were trading at $84.42 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were at $79.47, according to CNBC.
Read also: US airstrikes target Iran after troop deaths.
| Benchmark | Reported Price |
|---|---|
| Brent Crude | $84.42 |
| WTI Crude | $79.47 |
Clark H. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has criticized the administration’s approach, stating that restarting the war won’t make America stronger
and will likely increase the human and financial cost of the conflict.
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