Iran expands attacks on Gulf states after US strikes, says Strait of Hormuz closed

WASHINGTON/DUBAI — The United States and Iran exchanged heavy missile and drone attacks on Sunday, with Tehran launching strikes against U.S. facilities across the Gulf and announcing it had once again closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The latest escalation has raised fresh concerns over the future of an interim agreement signed by Washington and Tehran last month. The deal aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the conflict after an additional 60 days of negotiations.

The attacks marked the latest round of retaliatory strikes between the two countries, as Iran continues efforts to assert control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Sunday's assault represented a significant escalation in both the pace and geographic reach of the conflict.

Iran expanded its attacks to Qatar, which has served as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations and had not been targeted since April. The United Arab Emirates, which had not come under attack since early May, said its air defense systems intercepted Iranian missiles and drones.

The U.S. military responded by launching additional strikes against Iran beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, according to U.S. Central Command. The operation was intended to further weaken Iran's ability to target civilian vessels and commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins said American aircraft intercepted an Iranian cruise missile and a one-way attack drone.

Speaking briefly with Reuters on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the military campaign, saying, "We're beating them up."

Iranian media reported missile strikes and explosions near the port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas, both home to military facilities along the Strait of Hormuz, as well as nearby Qeshm Island.

Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as "aggressive" U.S. attacks over the weekend. The ministry also said talks with Oman held Saturday in Muscat on managing transit through the Strait of Hormuz ended without agreement because of what it called "overt and covert" U.S. pressure on Oman.

Over the past week, Trump has said he considers the ceasefire effectively over while indicating that negotiations remain possible.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on social media that "the era of one-sided deals is over," warning the United States to "keep your word or pay the price."

The conflict, which began after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, has destabilized the Gulf region. Iran has targeted countries hosting U.S. military bases, while its renewed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up global energy prices and increased concerns over inflation.

Rising fuel prices, particularly gasoline, could become a political challenge for Trump ahead of the November congressional elections.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Flashpoint

Iran has sought to establish a permanent system requiring vessels to obtain authorization and pay fees before transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carried about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the conflict.

Late Saturday, Iran announced it had closed the waterway after firing a warning shot that struck a vessel traveling along what it described as an unauthorized route. On Sunday, Iranian authorities said they had disabled a second vessel.

India reported that one of its citizens was missing following an attack on the container ship GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman. Omani authorities said 23 crew members had been rescued.

Qatar advised all vessels, including fishing boats, leisure craft, and jet skis, to suspend operations.

Iran's newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority said passage through the waterway was currently impossible because of what it described as recent illegal movements by U.S. military forces in the region. It said permits would be issued once stability had been restored.

The United States, which revoked the license authorizing sales of Iranian crude oil earlier in the week following previous attacks on shipping, said its military remained committed to protecting freedom of navigation despite what it described as Iranian aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations.

"Iran does not control the strait. Traffic is flowing," U.S. officials said.

The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center also advised that, despite heightened security risks, an expanded southern route near Oman remained open for two-way maritime traffic.

On Saturday, U.S. Central Command said American forces had struck 140 Iranian military targets and more than 300 targets over three nights in an effort to reduce Iran's capability to attack commercial shipping.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for retaliatory strikes, saying they had destroyed a command-and-control center and drone hangars in Jordan, targeted a U.S. radar site and rocket launcher systems in Kuwait, attacked aircraft carrier support and refueling platforms in Oman, and destroyed a jet maintenance center and command facility in Qatar.

Gulf Nations Report Damage

Qatar said three people, including a child, were injured by falling debris from the Iranian attack and declared that Tehran was fully responsible.

The United Arab Emirates reported detecting missile threats outside its borders, while Bahrain said it intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks. Jordan confirmed missile strikes, Oman reported drone attacks, and Kuwait said one of its oil drilling platforms was damaged, injuring a worker.

Oman also summoned Iran's ambassador to protest the drone attacks, while the U.S. Embassy advised American citizens in the Omani regions of Duqm and Musandam to shelter in place. -Additional reporting by Enas Alashray, Ahmed Elimam, Eman Abouhassira and Andrew Mills. Writing by Kim Coghill, Tom Perry, Aidan Lewis; Editing by William Mallard, Mark Potter and Nia Williams/Reuters