The United States has expanded its military campaign against Iran, launching new strikes that reached the vicinity of Tehran and targeted Bandar Abbas, the country’s primary port on the Strait of Hormuz.
This development marks a significant escalation in hostilities, moving beyond previous coastal and infrastructure targets to include the nation’s capital and its most critical maritime gateway.
The targeting of Bandar Abbas directly threatens the security of the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital oil transit chokepoint.
With the port under attack, the risk of disruption to tanker movements and regional shipping lanes has intensified.
Markets are likely to price in higher premiums for energy transport as insurers and shipping companies reassess the safety of routes through the Persian Gulf.
This escalation follows a series of US strikes on Iranian coastal defenses and missile sites, as well as the targeting of Bushehr, home to Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant.