Iran launched ballistic missiles at U.S. military bases in the Middle East and said it "targeted and stopped" three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, escalating regional tensions as U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks focused on Iran's nuclear program and the widening conflict.
According to Al Jazeera, citing the U.S. military, American air defenses intercepted all of the missiles fired by Iran, and none struck their intended targets. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the attack, which it described as a surprise strike by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), caused no casualties, while U.S. forces across the region remain on heightened alert.
The renewed confrontation added to concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's traded oil passes.
The IRGC said it launched ballistic missiles at a U.S. military base and a CENTCOM command facility in Jordan, describing the operation as retaliation for continued U.S. military actions against Iran. Iranian state media quoted the force as saying its "resistance will continue" as long as what it called American aggression persists.
The attacks coincided with high-level talks between Trump and Netanyahu at the White House, where Iran's nuclear activities, regional security and the future of U.S.-Iran diplomacy were expected to dominate discussions. Israeli officials were also expected to present intelligence alleging renewed activity at Iran's underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
In a separate development, the IRGC said it had "targeted and stopped" three oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz after accusing the vessels of ignoring repeated warnings and navigating through what it described as an illegal route. The military warned that ships following what it called unlawful U.S. navigation directives in the strategic waterway could face similar action. It did not identify the vessels or provide evidence supporting its allegations. There was no immediate response from the United States, Oman or international maritime authorities.
The incident came shortly after Tehran rejected an Omani proposal for the joint management of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran would not accept equal division of navigation responsibilities, insisting that Tehran retain authority over its side of the waterway.
The renewed confrontation added to concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's traded oil passes. Oil prices rose following the attacks as investors weighed the risk of further disruption to one of the world's most important energy corridors.
The United States and Iran have been engaged in direct military confrontation since late February, with both sides exchanging strikes across the region despite intermittent diplomatic contacts. Wednesday's missile attacks and the reported interception of commercial tankers underscore the growing risk that the conflict could spill further into regional shipping lanes, complicating efforts to revive diplomacy and increasing pressure on global energy markets.
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