U.S.-Iran tensions have escalated beyond the Strait of Hormuz, affecting U.S. military bases in the Gulf region. The U.S. has conducted airstrikes on over 80 targets in Iran in response to attacks on commercial vessels. Iran claims to have struck 85 U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. The follow-up negotiations for a ceasefire, which began after a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed last month, are now at risk of collapse.
On July 7, U.S. Central Command announced that it had completed additional airstrikes against Iran, describing the strikes as an immediate response to the attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes targeted over 80 sites using precision-guided munitions.
The targets included Iran's air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar stations, and anti-ship missile capabilities. More than 60 small fast boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were also hit. Central Command emphasized that the actions were intended to weaken Iran's ability to conduct further attacks on commercial vessels.
The U.S. has identified Iran as responsible for previous attacks on commercial vessels. On the same day, three commercial ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz were attacked, with some vessels reportedly catching fire after being struck by drones. No casualties have been reported.
Iran has not officially acknowledged its involvement in the attacks. However, state media reported that some vessels ignored warnings and did not follow designated routes. Qatar has sent a letter of protest to Iran, criticizing the situation as a threat to regional security and energy supplies.
The U.S. has also intensified economic pressure. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) revoked a temporary license issued on June 21 that allowed limited transactions involving Iranian oil and petrochemical products during the 60-day negotiation period.
Iran responded immediately, with its Foreign Ministry labeling the U.S. airstrikes and reinstatement of sanctions as violations of the MOU, warning of potential retaliation to protect national interests and security. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was visiting Iraq for the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, returned home urgently.
Subsequently, the IRGC claimed that its naval and aerospace forces conducted joint missile and drone operations, asserting they targeted 85 major U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. This included facilities related to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet stationed in Bahrain and the Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
However, the actual impact and extent of damage remain unverified. Bahrain and Kuwait have activated air raid alerts and air defense systems in response. The Kuwaiti military stated that the explosions heard in various locations were due to the interception process of their air defense systems.
As news of the clashes spread, the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz has risen again. The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) raised the maritime threat level from 'significant' to 'serious' on July 7. According to Reuters, citing data from the vessel tracking company Kpler, only 16 vessels passed through the Strait that day, marking the lowest level in about three weeks.
Experts have warned of the risk of escalation. Harlan Ullman, chairman of the Killowen Group and a former U.S. Navy officer, told Al Jazeera, "We need to see what happens in the coming days, but this is a very precarious moment, and anything could happen." However, he added, "Full-scale war is not in the interest of either side, so both will likely try to contain the escalation to some extent," noting that Iran appears to be seeking to strengthen its negotiating position by applying additional pressure on the U.S.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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