The United States and Iran have entered a dangerous new phase of confrontation after Washington launched fresh strikes on Iranian military targets and Tehran responded with attacks on U.S.-host military sites in the Gulf region.
According to Reuters and AP, Iran fired drones and missiles toward American-linked bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan after U.S. forces struck Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most sensitive oil shipping routes.
President Donald Trump warned that Iran had taken “too long” in negotiations and would now “pay the price,” while also suggesting Tehran still had a chance to reach a deal. Reuters reported that Qatari negotiators were heading to Tehran in an effort to rescue the stalled diplomacy.
CBS News reported that U.S. strikes hit nearly 20 Iranian targets, including air defense systems, radar sites and ground control stations, after Trump said Iran had shot down a U.S. Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. The crew survived.
Iran has accused Washington of aggression and said it may reassess its participation in peace efforts. The Guardian reported that the latest escalation has placed Middle East talks in doubt, with sanctions, nuclear limits, U.S. troop presence and Hormuz access still dividing both sides.
The crisis is also shaking global markets, with oil prices rising as fears grow that a wider U.S.-Iran conflict could threaten Gulf shipping and energy supplies