Iran has launched attacks on United States military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf.
The strikes come after a sixth consecutive night of US air campaigns targeting Iranian military infrastructure, according to reports from regional media outlets.
Brent crude had rallied earlier in the week as shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz surged to 10 million barrels a day, signaling a temporary stabilization of trade routes.
The US military stated that its operations aim to further degrade Iranian military capabilities, while Iranian officials confirmed the retaliatory nature of the attacks on allied bases.
The renewed violence casts a shadow over recent optimism in energy markets.
Brent crude had rallied earlier in the week as shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz surged to 10 million barrels a day, signaling a temporary stabilization of trade routes. However, the direct targeting of US infrastructure in neighboring Gulf states raises the immediate risk of renewed shipping disruptions and potential closures of key chokepoints.
Traders are likely to reassess the probability of a near-term ceasefire, which had been stalling due to Iran's refusal to meet US envoys.
This development follows a rapid intensification of hostilities, including a second wave of US strikes on Iranian coastal defenses and missile sites earlier in the week. The UN had previously warned that even a reopening of the Strait would not immediately resolve the global trade shock caused by the conflict. With diplomatic channels remaining open but fragile, the market is now pricing in a prolonged period of geopolitical uncertainty.