The United States launched a new wave of air and missile strikes against Iran on Thursday evening, extending a campaign that US Central Command (CENTCOM) described as the fifth consecutive night of operations. Iranian state media reported explosions and damage across multiple southern and southeastern provinces, including Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Qeshm Island, Ahvaz, and Iranshahr, with officials confirming at least two people killed and several wounded. Simultaneously, the US Navy boarded a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman and redirected three other vessels as part of a tightening maritime blockade aimed at enforcing restrictions on Iranian shipping.

From Washington, CENTCOM stated that the strikes targeted command centres, air defence sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance installations to “continue degrading Iran’s military capabilities.” The White House press secretary said President Trump held Iran responsible for violating a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2026 that prohibited attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, while adding that the president remained “open to diplomacy.” Iranian state television and provincial officials characterised the attacks as “American aggression,” reporting that strikes hit a railway junction in Bandar Abbas, two road bridges in Khamir county, and Iranshahr airport, causing casualties and power outages. Iran’s armed forces have responded by targeting what they describe as US military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan; those governments have reported civilian deaths and damage to civilian infrastructure.

The strikes hit transport links, including two bridges on the Bandar Abbas–Shiraz road and the Bandar Abbas railway spur, which Iranian officials said caused casualties and blocked key routes. Military analysts in London note that such targeting is consistent with an effort to disrupt Iranian logistics and force mobility. The naval boarding of the tanker Wen Yao and the disabling of a non-compliant vessel, confirmed by CENTCOM, form part of the blockade enforcement that the US says is necessary to protect commercial shipping. Iranian media also reported explosions near the Bushehr nuclear plant site, though no damage to the facility was confirmed.

The current intensification follows the collapse of a short-lived de-escalation framework agreed in June 2026. According to the White House, Iran’s alleged targeting of commercial vessels triggered the US response. Viewed from Tehran, the strikes represent a continuation of military pressure that began earlier in the week, and Iranian officials have vowed further retaliation. Regional analysts note that the expansion of Iranian counter-strikes to Arab states hosting US forces risks drawing additional actors into the conflict.

No diplomatic channel has yet produced a ceasefire, and CENTCOM has signalled that operations will persist. The White House maintains that negotiations remain possible, but the pace of strikes and the enforcement of the blockade indicate that Washington is prioritising military pressure. The situation remains highly volatile, with further exchanges expected.