US launches new attacks on Iran, killing one person, state media reports
The USA launched a new attack on Iran on Sunday evening, and attacks between the two countries continued for days. Iranian state media reported that one person was killed and four others were injured in the attacks in southwestern Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it hit US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, a few hours after the new US attacks.
The increasing attacks, which cast doubt on the future of the interim US-Iran agreement signed in June, come amid conflicting claims about whether the Strait of Hormuz is open.
Iran says it has closed the main waterway until further notice, while the US insists it is open.
Oil prices in Asia rose on Monday morning. Brent crude rose 4% to $79.07 (£59.11) a barrel, while US-traded oil rose 4.2% to $74.53.
Energy prices on global wholesale markets have fluctuated wildly in recent months as traders reacted to developments in the conflict.
Shortly after the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, Tehran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes.
Despite the recent increases, prices remain well below the $120 per barrel level that Brent reached in late April.
On Sunday evening, Centcom announced a new round of attacks against Iran, which it said would begin at 17:00 ET (22:00 BST).
In a later statement, it was stated that dozens of Iranian military targets were hit, including air defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities.
Centcom said U.S. forces “stand ready to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available for commercial shipping despite Iran’s continued unjustified aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations.”
Minutes before Centcom’s initial announcement, Iranian state television reported explosions in Sirik, Qeshm, Bandar Abbas and Jask.
“Following the attack of the American enemy on Monday morning… one person was martyred and four others were injured,” IRNA reported, citing Valiollah Hayati, deputy governor of Khuzestan province in charge of security and law enforcement. he said.
The new wave of US attacks came after US forces hit 140 Iranian military targets, Centcom said in a statement on Saturday evening.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded to these attacks with wide-ranging attacks on US bases and allies in the region, marking an escalation in the scale of hostilities.
Among the countries targeted by Iran were Qatar, which had been mediating in ceasefire talks and had not been attacked since April, and the UAE, which had not been attacked since May. The BBC contacted US Central Command (Centcom) for comment on the attack in Jordan.
The renewed fire has jeopardized a temporary ceasefire agreement signed last month aimed at reopening the strait and eventually bringing a permanent end to the conflict.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump announced that Iran’s attacks meant the ceasefire was over, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of violating the agreement.
However, Trump said the talks would continue and mediators were trying to revive the process.
On Sunday, US Central Command insisted the Strait was open, warning that the US military was in a position to ensure its free flow.
Additional reporting by Goncheh Habibiazad.
