The United States launched an 11th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran early Wednesday, intensifying a conflict that has disrupted global energy supplies and cast fresh uncertainty over diplomatic efforts to restore a collapsed interim ceasefire.
The latest strikes were confirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM), which did not immediately disclose the targets. The renewed offensive follows President Donald Trump’s indication that military operations against Iran would escalate further.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Diplomatic efforts continued in Pakistan, where Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni held talks with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan, which played a key role in brokering last month’s interim agreement between the US and Iran, is attempting to revive negotiations despite growing hostilities.
Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump dismissed the likelihood of immediate talks, stating that Washington had “no interest in meeting” unless Iran was prepared for meaningful negotiations. He also suggested that the US could soon target areas near one of Iran’s principal uranium enrichment facilities, prompting sharp warnings from Tehran.
Iran’s military declared that any attack on its nuclear or other strategic facilities would mark a major escalation, warning that US interests, along with those of its allies, would become legitimate targets across the region.
The conflict has increasingly centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and natural gas exports traditionally pass. Despite sustained US airstrikes, Iran has maintained its grip on the strategic waterway, while also attacking commercial shipping. On Tuesday, a tanker transiting the strait was struck, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel.
The widening conflict has spilled across the Middle East. Iran reportedly launched attacks targeting US allies, with missile and drone alerts issued in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Iraqi authorities temporarily suspended flights at Irbil International Airport following attacks in the Kurdish region, while Kuwait reported fresh strikes on desalination and power facilities, raising concerns over essential services.
In the Red Sea, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia and warned international shipping to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, further threatening global trade and energy supplies.
The escalation has driven energy prices sharply higher, with international crude oil prices rising above $91 per barrel and average gasoline prices in the United States climbing to around $4 per gallon.
Meanwhile, the human cost of the conflict continues to mount. A US official told The Associated Press that the number of wounded American personnel has exceeded 500, surpassing the Pentagon’s publicly reported figure due to delays in updating casualty records.
US Central Command said recent operations targeted Iranian military command centres, missile and drone launch sites, maritime assets and air defence systems, while Iranian state media reported explosions across several provinces, including Fars, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, and Sistan and Baluchistan.
Amid the escalating violence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure, describing them as unacceptable and a violation of international law, while urging all parties to exercise restraint and prevent the conflict from expanding further.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
