The Iranian military launched retaliatory strikes against military targets in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan early Monday, while also targeting two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating a week-long conflict with the United States that has sent global oil prices surging and raised fears of a wider regional war. At least one crew member was killed in the tanker attacks, and the U.S. has enforced a naval blockade on Iranian oil exports, disrupting nearly 20% of the world’s crude supplies.
What Happened
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for missile strikes on military installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, as well as direct hits on two commercial oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The MT Horizon Star, a Liberian-flagged vessel, suffered a catastrophic engine room strike, killing one Filipino crew member and injuring three others. The MT Pacific Trader, registered in Panama, sustained minor damage but was able to proceed after an emergency inspection.
In a televised address, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi framed the attacks as a “measured and necessary” response to what he called “continuous American aggression,” including U.S. airstrikes on Iranian soil over the past 48 hours. The IRGC stated that the strikes were retaliation for U.S. operations targeting its missile and drone facilities, which Tehran claims have damaged civilian infrastructure. The Pentagon has not directly addressed the Iranian allegations but confirmed that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted “precision strikes” against IRGC assets in western Iran on Sunday, citing “imminent threats” to U.S. forces and regional allies.
The Strait of Hormuz, a 21-mile-wide chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass, has become a flashpoint in the conflict. The U.S. Navy reported that both tankers were struck by Iranian missiles within hours of each other, though it did not specify the type of munitions used. Maritime security firms tracking the incidents said the attacks appeared to be carried out by shore-based anti-ship missiles, a capability Iran has demonstrated in previous military exercises.
Why It Matters
The escalation marks a dangerous new phase in the U.S.-Iran standoff, with direct military exchanges between the two nations now threatening critical global energy supplies. The U.S. blockade of Iranian oil exports, enforced by naval destroyers and aircraft carriers, has already caused Brent crude prices to spike by 8% in a single day, reaching $112 per barrel—the highest level since the 2022 Ukraine war. Energy analysts warn that prolonged disruptions could push prices above $130 per barrel, triggering inflationary pressures worldwide and straining economies still recovering from the post-pandemic slowdown.
The attacks on commercial shipping also raise the risk of broader economic fallout. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for oil exports from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates, and any sustained closure—whether through military action or insurance risks—could force tankers to take longer, costlier routes around Africa. The death of the Filipino crew member aboard the MT Horizon Star underscores the human toll of the conflict, as civilian seafarers increasingly find themselves in the crossfire of geopolitical tensions.
Politically, the strikes place U.S. allies in the Gulf in a precarious position. Kuwait and Bahrain, both home to major U.S. military bases, have not publicly confirmed the Iranian claims, while Jordan’s Royal Court issued a statement denying that any Iranian missiles had struck its territory. The Iranian Foreign Ministry, however, summoned the ambassadors of all three nations to protest their alleged “complicity” in hosting U.S. military assets used in recent strikes. The diplomatic fallout could further destabilize an already volatile region, particularly if Iran perceives its neighbors as active participants in the U.S. campaign.
Background and Context
The current crisis stems from the collapse of indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program and regional military activities. The Trump administration, which unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, has pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran, imposing sweeping economic sanctions and supporting regional allies in countering Iranian influence. Tehran, in turn, has accelerated its uranium enrichment program, breaching key limits set by the JCPOA, and expanded its ballistic missile and drone capabilities.
Tensions reached a boiling point last week after a series of tit-for-tat attacks. The U.S. accused Iran of orchestrating a drone strike on a U.S. military base in Syria, which killed two American soldiers. Washington responded with airstrikes on IRGC facilities in eastern Syria and western Iran, which Tehran claims resulted in civilian casualties. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that any further U.S. aggression would be met with “decisive retaliation,” a threat that appears to have been carried out with Monday’s strikes.
The U.S. blockade of Iranian oil exports, announced on Saturday, represents a significant escalation in economic warfare. The Trump administration justified the move as a “national security imperative,” citing intelligence reports that Iran was using oil revenues to fund proxy groups across the Middle East. However, the blockade’s legality under international law is disputed. The Strait of Hormuz is considered an international waterway, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guarantees freedom of navigation. The U.S. has not sought UN approval for the blockade, and several non-aligned nations, including India and China, have called for restraint, warning that the move could provoke further Iranian retaliation.
Competing Claims and Uncertainty
The Iranian government’s narrative—that its strikes were a proportional response to U.S. aggression—clashes with Washington’s framing of the conflict as a defensive measure against Iranian “terrorism.” The Pentagon has not provided evidence linking Iran to the drone strike in Syria that precipitated the latest round of hostilities, and Tehran has denied involvement. Similarly, the U.S. has not released intelligence to substantiate its claim that Iranian oil revenues are directly funding militant groups, though independent analysts note that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard does exert significant control over the country’s economy.
The status of the strikes on Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan remains unclear. While Iran’s state media broadcast footage of missile launches and claimed successful hits on military targets, none of the three Gulf states have confirmed the attacks. Jordan’s denial is particularly notable, as it suggests either Iranian misinformation or a failure of its air defenses to intercept the projectiles. U.S. officials, speaking anonymously to Herald Express, said early intelligence indicated “some level of kinetic activity” near U.S. bases in the region but stopped short of confirming Iranian strikes on allied soil.
The tanker attacks also raise questions about Iran’s targeting capabilities. The MT Horizon Star suffered a direct hit to its engine room, suggesting a high degree of precision, while the MT Pacific Trader sustained only minor damage. Maritime security experts say the disparity could indicate the use of different missile systems or varying degrees of success in evading the tankers’ defensive measures. The U.S. Navy has not disclosed whether the vessels were operating under escort at the time of the attacks, though industry sources say commercial ships in the region have increasingly relied on private armed security teams in recent weeks.
What to Watch Next
1. U.S. Response: The Biden administration, which has largely deferred to Trump on foreign policy since the former president’s return to office in 2024, faces pressure to respond decisively to the Iranian strikes. Options under consideration include additional airstrikes on IRGC targets, cyberattacks on Iranian infrastructure, or a further tightening of sanctions. However, any military escalation risks drawing the U.S. into a prolonged conflict, particularly if Iran retaliates by targeting U.S. bases in Iraq or Syria.
2. Gulf States’ Posture: Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan must decide whether to publicly acknowledge the Iranian strikes and seek greater U.S. protection or downplay the incidents to avoid provoking further attacks. Saudi Arabia, which has remained largely silent on the conflict, may also be drawn in if Iran targets its oil infrastructure in retaliation for Riyadh’s support of the U.S. blockade.
3. Global Oil Markets: Energy traders will be closely watching for signs of whether the U.S. can enforce its blockade without triggering a full-scale closure of the Strait of Hormuz. If Iran attempts to block the waterway—either through mining, missile strikes, or harassment of commercial shipping—oil prices could spike to levels not seen since the 1973 oil crisis. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has already warned of potential supply shortages if the conflict persists.
4. Diplomatic Efforts: The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency session on the crisis, though any resolution condemning Iran or the U.S. is likely to be vetoed by Russia or China. Regional powers such as Turkey and Oman, which have historically mediated between Iran and the West, may attempt to broker a de-escalation, though their leverage has diminished in recent years.
5. Iran’s Domestic Stability: The conflict comes at a precarious time for Iran’s leadership, which is grappling with economic stagnation, widespread protests, and internal divisions over its hardline policies. While the strikes may shore up nationalist support in the short term, a prolonged war could exacerbate public discontent, particularly if U.S. sanctions cripple Iran’s already struggling economy.
Conclusion
The latest escalation between the U.S. and Iran represents a dangerous inflection point in a conflict that has simmered for decades. By targeting commercial shipping and U.S. allies in the Gulf, Iran has signaled its willingness to escalate asymmetrically, raising the stakes for both sides. The U.S. blockade, meanwhile, risks turning a regional standoff into a global economic crisis, with oil prices already reflecting the market’s anxiety over supply disruptions.
The coming days will be critical in determining whether the conflict spirals into a wider war or whether backchannel diplomacy can pull both sides back from the brink. For now, the human and economic costs are already mounting—from the death of a civilian seafarer to the specter of $130-per-barrel oil. With neither Washington nor Tehran showing signs of backing down, the world watches as two nuclear-capable adversaries edge closer to direct confrontation.
Story synopsis gathered from: [Al Jazeera News](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/7/14/iran-war-live-us-launches-more-attacks-trump-orders-blockade-in-hormuz?traffic_source=rss) — source.
Corrections
If you believe this article contains an error, contact Herald Express with the source URL and supporting evidence.
Story synopsis gathered from: Al Jazeera News — source.
