US Strikes Iran As Tehran Targets UAE Tankers, Bahrain In Escalating Strait Of Hormuz Conflict

Washington launched fresh military strikes on Iran early Tuesday after US President Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian activities in the Strait of Hormuz. The move triggered a retaliatory response from Tehran, which attacked Bahrain and two UAE-linked oil tankers, killing one mariner and injuring eight others. The US Central Command said its forces targeted Iranian coastal defence systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime facilities across areas including Abu Musa, Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Chahbahar, Jask and Konarak. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for strikes on the UAE tankers, saying the vessels ignored warnings and entered a restricted area. The UAE Defence Ministry said the attacks caused fires on both ships and resulted in the death of an Indian national, with six Indians and two Ukrainians injured. Bahrain also came under attack, with missile warning sirens activated as authorities urged residents to take shelter. No casualties or major damage were immediately reported. The latest escalation has intensified tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route through which a significant share of crude oil and gas shipments pass. Oil prices surged above $84 a barrel amid fears of further disruption. Trump said the US would continue targeting Iran’s military capabilities and suggested that ships using the strait could be charged for protection costs, a move that could challenge longstanding freedom-of-navigation policies. The confrontation comes amid growing uncertainty over a fragile US-Iran agreement, with both sides accusing each other of violating terms related to maritime access and security in the region.