Iran’s president declared a “full-scale war” with the United States on Tuesday as American warplanes pounded Iranian targets for a 10th consecutive night and Iran retaliated by attacking oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military said it launched fresh strikes to “further degrade” Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping, hitting military command centres, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defence systems, according to US Central Command. The strikes came hours after President Donald Trump vowed to make Iran pay “many times over” for the deaths of three US soldiers – two in Jordan and one in Iraq – killed in recent days.
“Iran's president declares 'full-scale war' as US enters 10th night of strikes and Iran attacks tankers in Strait of Hormuz.”
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it struck two oil tankers in the waterway, forcing crews to abandon ship, and also attacked US military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz reported being hit by an unknown projectile, with its crew taking to a lifeboat. Iran said its forces struck the vessels as they attempted to transit what it called the “unsafe and hazardous southern route”.
Explosions rocked several Iranian cities, including the north-western city of Tabriz, where state media said one person was killed and several wounded, as well as the Gulf ports of Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini and the south-eastern ports of Chabahar and Konarak. Six fuel tankers and cargo ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, down from eight the previous day, according to data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia announced an immediate maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, closing the Bab al-Mandeb strait to Saudi vessels in response to the kingdom’s “unjust blockade on Yemenis for over 10 years”. Saudi Arabia said it would take “all necessary measures to protect its vessels in accordance with international law”.
Iran also retaliated against US allies: Jordan said it intercepted five drones after shooting down three missiles late on Monday; Bahrain said drones targeted its air navigation systems but traffic remained unaffected; Kuwait’s armed forces intercepted Iranian drones. The IRGC also claimed to have destroyed an Amazon data centre in Bahrain with cruise missiles.
Despite the escalation, there were signs of diplomatic activity. Iran’s interior minister travelled to Pakistan, a key mediator, for talks. In Lebanon, the Lebanese army began taking charge of security in three southern villages as part of a US-mediated deal for Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah disarmament.
The conflict has exacted a mounting toll. Democrats seized on the deaths of three US troops to urge Trump to reverse his resumption of war with Iran amid widespread anxiety over climbing casualties. Oil prices softened slightly, with Brent crude easing 0.4% to $88.87 a barrel, after hitting their highest levels in more than a month the previous session.
With both sides dug in and the strait of Hormuz – a vital artery for global energy supplies – still contested, the question now is whether diplomacy can outpace the bombs.
