U.S. strikes target Iranian sites

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes focused on military positions on Greater Tunb Island and coastal areas overlooking the Strait of Hormuz. It added that the operation lasted about 90 minutes and was intended to weaken Iran's ability to target commercial vessels in vital maritime shipping lanes.

In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had targeted U.S. military sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan in retaliation for the recent strikes, while threatening to expand the closure of additional energy export routes in the region.

Tehran also reaffirmed its decision to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, stating that the measure would remain in place until what it described as "the end of U.S. pressure and aggression."

The escalation comes as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to grow, with the waterway becoming a central flashpoint in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Before the current crisis, the strait handled roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas trade.

Threats concerning the Bab al-Mandab Strait have also raised fears that disruptions could spread to another of the world's most important trade and energy routes, contributing to the continued rise in global oil prices in recent days.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States could expand its strikes to include Iranian power stations and bridges if Tehran does not return to negotiations in the coming period, while emphasizing that diplomatic contacts with Iran remain ongoing.

ANHA