Iran Strikes US Bases in Middle East as Regional War Flares Again

TEHRAN — Iran launched missile strikes against US military targets in the Middle East on Monday, escalating tensions after the United States carried out its first strikes on Iranian territory in nearly a month.

Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted two US military air bases in Jordan with ballistic missiles in retaliation for the American strikes on Sunday, claiming the attacks caused “heavy damage.”

Jordan’s military said it intercepted eight missiles but did not identify their origin.

Iranian authorities also said they targeted US military personnel at an air base in the United Arab Emirates and shot down a US drone over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.

The latest exchange of fire followed US strikes on Iranian rocket launchers positioned on a small island in the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington said the operation was intended to prevent Iran from deploying additional sea mines in the waterway, days after US forces announced they had completed efforts to clear mines from international shipping routes.

“US forces took limited, precise action against IRGC minelaying forces posing an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command said in a statement posted on X.

The IRGC said the US strikes had resulted in casualties and described its subsequent attacks on Jordan as a response to what it called “US-Zionist aerial aggression.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was not seeking a wider conflict but would respond to attacks against the country.

“We are not seeking war, but we will deliver a decisive response to the aggressors,” Pezeshkian said in remarks quoted by Iranian state television.

Pezeshkian made the comments before travelling to Kyrgyzstan for a summit of a bloc that seeks to counter Western influence. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are also expected to attend.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Flashpoint

The renewed fighting comes roughly six months into the conflict, following a period in which hostilities had appeared to ease.

The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the confrontation. Before the war began, approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies passed through the strategic waterway.

Iran has effectively restricted traffic through the strait, creating concerns over global energy supplies and international shipping.

US Central Command said it had recently completed clearing sea mines from international shipping routes.

“US forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway,” said Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for the command.

The renewed confrontation immediately affected global energy markets, with both major crude oil benchmarks rising by at least 2% on Monday.

Diplomatic Efforts Struggle

The latest escalation comes despite months of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.

Mediators, including Pakistan and Qatar, have attempted to facilitate negotiations between Washington and Tehran. A ceasefire was reached in April, followed by a memorandum of understanding in June that was intended to provide a framework for a longer-term peace agreement.

However, a final settlement has yet to emerge.

The April ceasefire brought an end to the most intense phase of fighting, but sporadic attacks, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, have continued to undermine prospects for a lasting agreement.

The United States has increasingly relied on economic pressure against Tehran. Washington has described its strategy as “economic warfare,” while a US naval counterblockade of Iranian ports has placed additional pressure on Iran’s fuel supplies amid a domestic production shortfall.

The last US strike against Iran before Sunday occurred on July 29 and was described by the US military as a response to an attempted surprise attack on American forces in the region.

Earlier in July, US Central Command conducted strikes against Iran for 13 consecutive nights.

Iran has repeatedly retaliated by targeting US military facilities and American allies across the Gulf, including locations in Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

War Faces Growing Political Opposition

The prolonged conflict has also become a domestic political challenge for the Trump administration.

The war remains unpopular among many Americans, with November’s midterm elections approaching and control of Congress potentially at stake.

US Senator Jack Reed, the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticised President Donald Trump’s handling of the conflict in a statement issued Friday.

“Six months later, not a single objective has been achieved,” Reed said. “Indeed, he has weakened our position in the Middle East and the world significantly.”

With military exchanges intensifying again and diplomatic efforts stalled, the latest strikes have raised fresh concerns that the conflict could expand further across the Middle East, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a key potential flashpoint for both regional security and the global economy.