Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - The U.S. has carried out another round of strikes on Iran, targeting air-defense systems, coastal surveillance sites, missile and drone assets, and Revolutionary Guard boats to further weaken Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The renewed military action comes as attacks on tankers and broader Gulf instability push oil prices higher and deepen fears of a wider regional conflict.

CENTCOM said the latest strikes hit roughly 90 targets in one wave and followed earlier attacks that targeted about 80 Iranian military sites, including more than 60 IRGC small boats. The strikes were triggered by Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in Hormuz, with U.S. officials arguing that Tehran’s actions violated the ceasefire and threatened international trade. Iran has answered with retaliatory strikes on U.S. and allied sites in Bahrain, Kuwait and other Gulf locations, widening the conflict beyond the strait itself.

The maritime situation is worsening because shipping through Hormuz has become increasingly dangerous, with repeated attacks, closures and warnings affecting oil flows. Oil markets have reacted sharply, with prices rising as traders fear a longer disruption to supplies from one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. The conflict now has a direct impact on global trade, insurers, and ship operators trying to avoid the corridor.

The latest strikes show that the conflict over Hormuz has entered another dangerous phase, with military force, tanker attacks and oil-market shocks all feeding one another. Unless the shipping corridor is stabilized soon, the risk of a broader regional war will remain high.