The United States intensified its military offensive against Iran on Thursday, launching a series of heavy strikes targeting multiple strategic locations and firing upon a vessel. The US administration alleged that the ship was attempting to breach the naval blockade currently imposed on Iran, while in a swift retaliation, Iran launched missiles and drones at United States allies within the region, issuing a stern warning that its counter-attacks could escalate further. This latest surge in violence marks the definitive collapse of the temporary ceasefire that was established last month, leading to several days of continuous hostilities centered on the control of the critical Strait of Hormuz.
Casualties and Strategic Targets Near Tehran
According to Iranian officials, the recent wave of American strikes has resulted in the deaths of more than 35 people, while over 300 individuals have been reported injured. For the first time in this current cycle of violence, the conflict reached the outskirts of the Iranian capital, Tehran. This expansion suggests that the United States is broadening its target list to include more sensitive locations. The broader conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel initiated military actions against Iran, prompting Tehran to completely shut down the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic. This strategic move caused global oil prices to surge and provided Iran with significant use in diplomatic negotiations.
Warnings of Infrastructure Destruction
Colonel Ibrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a direct threat regarding the potential for total regional infrastructure destruction. He stated that if the US follows through on President Donald Trump's repeated warnings to strike Iranian bridges and power plants, Iran is prepared to launch large-scale attacks on all infrastructure across the region. Zolfaghari emphasized that Iran wouldn't permit the United States, which he described as a foreign and extra-regional power, to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz under any circumstances. He declared the waterway to be Iran's red line that must not be crossed.
Detailed Strike Locations and Naval Engagements
Iranian state media reported that Thursday's American strikes targeted areas around Tehran and Semnan province, which are central to Iran's ballistic missile production and space programs. Additional strikes were reported in the provinces of Hamadan, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Markazi, and Sistan-Baluchestan, as well as on Iran's Qeshm Island located near the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command confirmed that strikes on Greater Tunb Island specifically targeted Iranian defense and missile sites. Greater Tunb is one of three small rocky islands at the junction of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has occupied since 1971, allowing it significant control over the waterway. Plus, the US military disabled a Curacao-flagged oil tanker heading toward Iran's main oil export terminal after the vessel ignored multiple warnings.
Regional Retaliation and Economic Impact
The conflict has spilled over into neighboring countries, with Iran launching missile and drone attacks on Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, where US military forces are stationed, while while immediate details on casualties in these countries were unavailable, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi condemned a drone attack on Iraq's semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region. Meanwhile, the economic toll is mounting as cargo shipments through Hormuz fell by nearly one-quarter earlier this month. Brent crude oil prices remained above 85 dollars per barrel on Thursday, a 15 percent increase from pre-war levels. President Trump, speaking at the US Army War College, noted that while Iran may want a deal, the US is prepared to either reach an agreement or finish the conflict. Amidst the chaos, reports emerged of the potential release of Dana Karari, an Iranian-American citizen detained since 2024, as a gesture of goodwill from Tehran.