WASHINGTON — The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified Tuesday as American forces conducted new strikes on Iranian military sites and Tehran retaliated against regional targets and commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said the American operation targeted Iranian coastal-defense systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities around several coastal locations, including Bandar Abbas, Bushehr and Abu Musa. Iran acknowledged attacks in those areas but did not immediately provide a comprehensive assessment of casualties or damage. The U.S. military said its objective was to reduce Iran’s ability to attack civilians and commercial ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, meanwhile, maintains that American military operations constitute aggression and says it is defending its territory and regional interests. The renewed fighting has further weakened an interim ceasefire under which Washington and Tehran were expected to negotiate a lasting agreement addressing the conflict, Iran’s nuclear program and security in the Persian Gulf. Associated Press Tankers attacked as conflict spreads Iranian attacks reportedly targeted Bahrain and Jordan as well as two tankers associated with the United Arab Emirates. According to the UAE Defense Ministry, cruise missiles struck the tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, killing one mariner and injuring eight others. Jordan’s military said it intercepted four Iranian missiles. Bahrain, which hosts American military personnel, activated missile-warning sirens and instructed residents to seek shelter. The attacks increase the possibility that additional Gulf countries could be pulled into the confrontation. The UAE has warned that it may respond, although the scope and timing of any action remain unclear. Iran has repeatedly accused neighboring countries of assisting American operations. Those governments face a difficult balancing act: many depend on U.S. security support but want to avoid becoming direct participants in a wider war. Control of the Strait becomes central issue At the center of the confrontation is the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. In normal conditions, roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil and natural gas passes through the waterway. President Donald Trump said the United States was reinstating a blockade against Iran and would keep the strait open. He also suggested that ships could be charged for American protection or safe passage—a proposal that would represent a major departure from the longstanding U.S. position that international waterways should remain open without tolls. Iran has separately claimed authority over the strait and demonstrated that it retains the ability to threaten vessels traveling through it. Analysts caution that airstrikes alone may not eliminate Iran’s coastal missiles, drones, mines and small attack boats. The U.S. previously protected tankers in the region during the Iran–Iraq War of the 1980s. A sustained modern escort operation, however, could require extensive naval and air resources while exposing American forces and civilian crews to continued attacks. Associated Press analysis Oil prices and household costs The renewed hostilities are already affecting energy markets. Benchmark Brent crude climbed above $84 per barrel Tuesday, reaching a one-month high, according to the Associated Press. A prolonged disruption in the strait could push oil and natural-gas prices higher. For Americans, the consequences could eventually include increased gasoline, electricity, shipping and airline costs. Higher energy expenses could also complicate the Federal Reserve’s effort to control inflation. Actual price effects will depend on how much shipping is interrupted, how long the confrontation lasts and whether other oil-producing countries can compensate for lost supplies. Markets may remain volatile even if physical exports continue because traders price in the possibility of future disruption. Fragile diplomacy under pressure The latest exchange comes during a 60-day period that was intended to produce a more permanent agreement between Washington and Tehran. Instead, attacks on ships and military sites have continued, and both governments accuse the other of violating the ceasefire. The United States has demanded a public Iranian guarantee that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and that commercial vessels will not be attacked. Political divisions inside Iran have reportedly complicated negotiations and efforts to enforce previous commitments. Associated Press United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged both sides to resume negotiations immediately, warning that renewed strikes could return the region to all-out war. The United Nations and its maritime agency have also called for restraint and the restoration of safe navigation. United Nations What happens next Three developments will determine whether the crisis deepens: Whether attacks on tankers and American bases continue. Whether Gulf governments retaliate directly against Iran. Whether diplomatic intermediaries can restore the ceasefire before the current cycle of strikes expands. For the United States, the immediate challenge is protecting military personnel and international shipping without entering another prolonged regional war. For Iran, continued attacks could strengthen its leverage over the strait but invite heavier military action and greater economic isolation. For the wider world, the greatest near-term risk is that a miscalculation—an attack causing mass casualties, a disabled tanker blocking part of the strait or an unexpected strike on another country—could transform the current escalation into a broader conflict. This is a developing story. Claims made by governments during active conflicts can change or remain independently unverified.