Tehran/Washington, June 12:
The confrontation between Iran and the United States intensified sharply on Thursday after Iran claimed to have launched drone and missile attacks against American military assets in the Gulf region and announced the closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iranian military officials, drone strikes targeted the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, including communications and radar facilities associated with the Patriot air-defence system. The attacks came in response to fresh US military operations against Iranian targets.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces had carried out additional strikes on multiple Iranian military sites, describing the action as a response to what it called Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”
In a major escalation with potentially far-reaching global implications, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all maritime traffic, including oil tankers and commercial vessels. Iranian authorities warned that any ship attempting to transit the strategic waterway could be targeted. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, through which a significant share of global oil exports passes.
The latest military exchanges occurred despite reports that Tehran and Washington had recently explored possible peace proposals through mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
Iran also dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump that he had held direct telephone discussions with Iranian officials, describing the assertion as an attempt to deflect attention from the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, Jordan said its air defence systems and Royal Air Force fighter jets intercepted and destroyed 20 missiles fired from Iran early Thursday morning. The missiles were reportedly intercepted over the Azraq region in eastern Jordan.
In a statement, the Jordan Armed Forces said debris from the intercepted missiles fell in certain areas, but no casualties or property damage were reported. Military engineering teams have been deployed to safely dispose of unexploded ordnance.
Jordan emphasized that it remains on the highest level of combat readiness and reiterated its commitment to protecting national sovereignty and airspace against any violations.
Adding to the tensions, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike targeting the US-linked Al-Azraq military base in Jordan, describing it as retaliation for recent American attacks on Iranian territory. Reports also indicated that Iranian forces launched attacks against US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan as part of a broader retaliatory campaign.
The latest developments mark one of the most serious escalations in the US-Iran conflict in recent months, raising concerns over regional stability, international shipping routes and global energy markets. Analysts warn that prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could have significant consequences for oil supplies and world markets.
