DUBAI — The United States and Iran exchanged a new wave of military attacks on Saturday, further destabilizing a fragile ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The escalation follows recent clashes in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil and gas shipments.
According to the U.S. military, multiple Iranian targets were struck overnight under orders from President Donald Trump. The Pentagon stated that Iran had an opportunity to uphold the ceasefire but chose not to, citing an Iranian attack on a vessel near the Strait of Hormuz earlier Saturday. Iran’s state television reported explosions north of the strait, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for targeting unspecified U.S. military locations in the region.
Earlier the same day, Iran launched a drone strike targeting Bahrain, a Gulf Cooperation Council member that hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet and has been a staunch critic of Tehran. Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry condemned the assault, describing it as a “flagrant threat” to the safety of its residents, although no immediate damage or casualties were reported.
The string of attacks comes amid ongoing negotiations aimed at securing a comprehensive agreement to end hostilities. Both sides have agreed to a 60-day interim deal intended to facilitate a final accord addressing key issues, including passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program, particularly its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Vice President JD Vance, who has been overseeing talks with Iran, urged Tehran Friday to resolve disagreements through dialogue rather than violence, adding that “violence will be met with violence.”
The maritime situation remains tense. The United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations reported an attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz Saturday. While the crew remains safe and no environmental damage has been reported, the vessel’s targeting added to regional anxieties. No group immediately claimed responsibility, though Iran faced suspicion.
In response to shifting dynamics, a U.S.-led multinational maritime body announced plans to expand a shipping route near Oman’s coast, allowing for increased inbound and outbound traffic. This move is likely to heighten tensions, given Tehran’s insistence on controlling passage through the strait and its recent threats to levy transit fees. Iranian officials, including Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, have asserted Iran’s sovereignty over the strait and demanded adherence to its regulations.
Conversely, the U.S. and Gulf Arab states reject these claims, maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway, despite overlapping territorial claims by Iran and Oman.
These developments underscore the fragility of the ceasefire and highlight ongoing challenges to regional stability in the Persian Gulf. The conflict’s continuation threatens global energy supplies and complicates diplomatic efforts to achieve a lasting resolution, including ending hostilities involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, another critical component of the broader negotiation framework.