Iran launched fresh attacks against United States targets in the Middle East on Wednesday in retaliation for American strikes on Iranian oil tankers, escalating a six-month conflict between the two nations.
The country’s powerful Revolutionary Guards said they attacked 20 US vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil and gas shipments that Iran has largely controlled since the war began.
The Guards also said they carried out a “punitive operation” against the US air base of Al-Azraq in Jordan with missiles. State media, IRNA, reported that maintenance facilities, deployment locations and fighter jet shelters were damaged.
The strikes came a day after the US military said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers. Washington said it acted after Iran targeted an American warship in the second such attack in less than a week.
Jordan’s army said it intercepted 18 missiles fired at the kingdom during the attack.
Iran also warned that it would target oil tankers off US-allied Kuwait and Bahrain, urging crews to abandon their vessels.
Oil prices surged on the development. Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed to $99.46 per barrel in Asian trade, while US West Texas Intermediate rose to $94.45 per barrel.
The US and Iran remain locked in a stalemate, with Tehran maintaining control over Hormuz and Washington pushing to choke Iran’s ports and economy.
