Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated sharply over the weekend as Tehran intensified attacks in the Gulf region and Washington reported the first American military casualties since hostilities resumed earlier this year. The latest violence comes nearly a month after both nations abandoned a preliminary deal aimed at ending their conflict.

Iranian forces targeted infrastructure in the Gulf, including an airport, railway station, and bridges, in retaliation for a series of U.S. strikes. The Islamic republic extended its military operations to Jordan, where the U.S. Central Command confirmed that two American service members were killed on Friday while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. One additional service member remains missing in action.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei condemned the United States, dismissing recent diplomatic efforts and warning Washington of “unforgettable lessons” in response to ongoing U.S. aggression. Khamenei, who assumed leadership after his father was killed in the conflict’s opening strikes in late February, emphasized that the signature of the American president was now “worthless.” Meanwhile, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military adviser to Khamenei, threatened the resumption of “full-scale offensive operations” should U.S. attacks continue, signaling a potential escalation beyond previous retaliatory measures.

Efforts to revive peace talks have so far failed to gain traction. Despite threats from U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week to target Iranian infrastructure, there has been no confirmation from Washington that such actions have taken place. In response, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi accused the U.S. of breaching all commitments under a previous memorandum of understanding, prompting Iran to similarly suspend its obligations.

Reports from Iranian state media indicate that recent U.S. strikes have inflicted casualties and significant damage within Iran. The southern province of Hormozgan reportedly suffered three fatalities and eight injuries from American attacks. In Khuzestan province, officials reported 95 U.S. strikes across 12 cities over the last ten days, resulting in eight deaths. Iran also accused U.S. forces of targeting critical infrastructure, including power and desalination facilities in the village of Bonji, disrupting water supplies to several southern communities.

In response to the mounting strain on energy resources, Iran’s Ministry of Energy urged residents to conserve electricity, especially during peak hours. The Ministry of Health reported that since the resumption of fighting, at least 50 Iranians have been killed and over 500 wounded.

The recent surge in violence traces back to Iranian attacks on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint for global energy exports that Iran seeks to assert control over. Since the conflict’s outbreak in February, Iran has closed the strait, using it as leverage amid ongoing negotiations. In turn, the U.S. has reinstated a blockade on Iranian ports, further intensifying the economic and military standoff between the two countries.