Iran Strikes US Bases in Jordan and Gulf States After Pentagon Hits Iranian Cities

Iran strikes on US military assets in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman followed the US third round of strikes on Iranian cities and military targets, with Tehran also re-closing the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon said it struck Iran early on Sunday after the IRGC fired on a Cyprus-registered container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. [1]

US Strikes Hit Iranian Coastal Cities

The Pentagon struck Iran early on Sunday after the IRGC fired on a Cyprus-registered container ship. [1] Iranian state media reported blasts in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Jask, Qeshm Island and Khuzestan province from the US attacks that hit about 140 targets over three nights, including missile, drone, naval, ammunition and communication sites. [2] Centcom said US forces hit 140 Iranian targets on Saturday, out of more than 300 strikes during three nights of attacks to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the strait. [2] Iranian state media reported hearing blasts in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Jask, Qeshm Island and Khuzestan province. [1] Centcom said the military had hit approximately 140 Iranian military targets as it finished the third round of strikes this week. [4]

Iran Attacks Cyprus-Flagged Ship in Hormuz

The Pentagon said it struck Iran early on Sunday after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on a Cyprus-registered container ship it said was sailing an unauthorised route through the Strait of Hormuz. [1] The IRGC later said it hit another vessel, accusing it of violating regulations. [1] The Cyprus-registered GFS Galaxy vessel had been disabled by fire and damage to its engine room and a crew member was missing, Centcom said. [2] One Indian national was missing after the attack on the GFS Galaxy, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said. [2] The IRGC had earlier said it struck and stopped a vessel ignoring repeated instructions to use an approved shipping corridor. [2] Following this incident the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice and until the end of American interventions in this region, the IRGC said. [2] US Central Command stated commercial vessels continue to transit through the waterway. [2]

Explosion from Iranian strike on US military asset in Gulf region. — Source: middleeasteye

Iran Strikes Across Gulf States

The IRGC claimed it destroyed a command and control centre and drone hangars in Jordan, targeted a US radar site in Kuwait, destroyed a jet maintenance centre and command facility in Qatar, and hit logistical support and refuelling facilities for US aircraft carriers at Oman's port of Duqm. [1] The IRGC said it had destroyed a command and control centre and drone hangars in Jordan, targeted a US radar site in Kuwait, and destroyed a jet maintenance centre and command facility in Qatar. [1] In Oman, it said it had destroyed the logistical support centres for naval vessels and the refuelling facilities for US aircraft carriers at the port of Duqm in Oman. [1] Iran’s Guards later announced through state media that they had retaliated by striking US bases and radar sites in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar with ballistic missiles and drones. [4] The IRGC claimed a heavy and surprise attack on logistics support centres and refuelling platforms used by US aircraft carriers at the port of Duqm in Oman. [5] The IRGC said it also targeted Qatar’s Al Udeid airbase with ballistic missiles and claimed to have destroyed a fighter plane maintenance centre, as well as a command-and-control centre at the base. [5] Iran’s army said it used explosive drones to target a Patriot air defence system, an ammunition depot and a radar site belonging to the US military in Kuwait. [5] The IRGC said it targeted US military facilities at Prince Hassan airbase in Jordan with several ballistic missiles, and claimed to have destroyed a command-and-control centre at the base, as well as hangars housing MQ-9 drones. [5]

Reactions from Gulf Nations

Qatar reported three people including a child wounded by shrapnel from intercepted Iranian attacks. [1] Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain and the UAE while Kuwait worked to intercept incoming fire. [1] Qatar said it was intercepting missile attacks from which three people including a child had been wounded. [1] Kuwait said it was also working to intercept an attack, while Jordan said that three Iranian missiles had fallen on its soil. [1] The UAE later said that missile threats detected earlier in the day were outside the country's borders. [2] Qatar’s Ministry of Defence said it intercepted incoming Iranian fire. [5] Three people, including a child, were wounded as a result of falling shrapnel from the interception of Iranian attacks, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior said. [5] The United Arab Emirates said its defense systems engaged missiles and drones from Iran, while warning sirens sounded in Bahrain and explosions were heard in Doha. [4] Oman said it is taking all necessary measures to deal with the developments to preserve the safety of the country and its residents. [5] Qatar also strongly condemned Iran’s attacks on its territories, as well as in the region. [5]

End of Ceasefire and Diplomatic Fallout

The exchanges ended a weeks-long ceasefire, with President Trump, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei issuing statements, while parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted that the era of one-sided deals is over. [2] US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay. [2] A series of attacks between the US and Iran over recent days led President Donald Trump to declare that a ceasefire that had lasted several weeks was now effectively over. [2] On Sunday, Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posted on X: The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking. [2] On Saturday, Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, penned a written statement threatening vengeance for the death of his predecessor and father, Ali Khamenei. [2] The latest round of fighting took place after talks in Oman on Saturday between Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi. [2] The talks were aimed at coordinating arrangements for shipping and transit in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said on Sunday. [2]

Strategic Importance of the Strait

Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until the end of US intervention; Centcom stated commercial vessels continue to transit the waterway. [1] The IRGC said the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice and until the end of American interventions in this region. [2] The narrow-yet-vital waterway touted as the artery of global trade, hosting 20 percent of energy flow, has been at the centre of tensions between the US and Iran since the preliminary deal was signed. [5] Tehran has consistently insisted that only routes approved by Iran shall be taken up during transit through the strait. [5] The US and the GCC countries have rejected Iran’s claim on the strait and demanded that navigation be freed of interference or any sort of fees. [5] On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in Oman, where the leaders discussed the shipping and management of the Strait of Hormuz. [5]

What to watch next: Centcom said commercial vessels continue to transit the waterway while the IRGC maintains the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the end of US intervention, with further statements expected from President Trump and Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.