Iran says the latest US attacks hit five cities in Bushehr Province before launching retaliatory strikes against American interests in the region.
The United States has carried out another round of military strikes against Iran, marking a further escalation in tensions between the two countries.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation began early Sunday following what Washington described as an attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said the vessel sustained significant damage after catching fire in the engine room, leaving one civilian crew member missing and forcing the ship to halt its voyage.
Iranian state media confirmed that US forces carried out strikes inside the country. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), quoting an Iranian official, reported that five cities in Bushehr Province, including Asaluyeh, Dir, Bushehr, Dashti and Tangestan, were targeted.
In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks aimed at American interests in several Gulf countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan.
Qatari authorities said at least three people were injured after debris from intercepted missiles fell in parts of the country.
Washington and Tehran continue to accuse each other of violating the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing activities in the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States maintains that Iran has attacked commercial vessels navigating the strategic waterway. Iran, however, accuses Washington of attempting to establish a shipping corridor outside Tehran’s authority, arguing that the agreement requires Iranian approval for the free passage of vessels through the strait.
US President Donald Trump had earlier declared that the ceasefire between the two countries had ended.
Last week, the US leader announced plans for military action against Iran about 24 hours before the strikes and warned that Washington was prepared to eliminate Iran’s nuclear programme without reaching a negotiated agreement.
The latest operation is regarded as one of the most significant military actions since the MoU was signed in mid-June. Earlier strikes in Kerman Province reportedly injured at least two people after a communications tower in southern Iran was hit.
CENTCOM also disclosed that its forces struck 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday after the IRGC announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz “until further notice.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to avenge his father, Ali Khamenei, who Iranian authorities say was killed during a joint US-Israeli attack in February.
In his first public statement since funeral ceremonies for his predecessor began a week ago, Mr Khamenei described revenge as “the demand of the nation”. He said those responsible would be held accountable.
“We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” the statement said, according to Al Jazeera.
