US-Iran Conflict Deepens as Fighting Around Strait of Hormuz Drives Oil Prices Higher

Fresh exchanges of attacks between the United States and Iran have intensified the conflict in the Middle East, with violence spreading across the Gulf region and renewed instability sending oil prices to their highest level in a month.

Brent crude surged above $91 a barrel on Monday as concerns mounted over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane that previously handled around 20 percent of global oil supplies.

The renewed escalation comes after negotiations aimed at ending the conflict broke down over disagreements surrounding the strategic waterway.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed that two oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz “exploded and were brought to a halt,” according to the Tasnim news agency.

Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed reports of a ship on fire in the strait but said the cause remained unverified.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of trying to use the strait as geopolitical leverage.

“It’s clear that Iran, at least some people in Iran, want to control the straits and hold that as leverage against the world,” Rubio said.

He also called on other nations to contribute more resources toward protecting international shipping.

“The United States will do and continue to do what it needs to, to protect global shipping, but other countries need to begin to step up and provide, whether it’s hardware or finances, to help carry that burden.”

Although a fragile understanding between Washington and Tehran has collapsed, Rubio maintained that diplomacy remains possible.

“What I will say is that the United States always remains open to a diplomatic solution. We’ve tried multiple times with Iran, and we’ll continue to try.”

US Central Command said it had carried out its ninth straight night of military strikes, describing the operations as efforts to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Pentagon also confirmed three additional American military deaths, raising the total number of US military fatalities in the conflict to 17.

President Donald Trump said the latest US attacks had “hit them very hard” following the deaths of American personnel.

Iran, meanwhile, expanded its military operations beyond its borders, announcing strikes against US-linked targets in Syria, Jordan and Kuwait. It claimed to have struck the US command centre at Al-Tanf, damaged military aircraft at Jordan’s Aqaba Airport, and destroyed a US early-warning radar installation in Kuwait.

Kuwait reported intercepting hostile drones, while Bahrain activated air raid sirens and instructed residents to move to safe locations.

According to Iran’s Health Ministry, 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in the latest wave of fighting, underscoring the growing humanitarian toll of the conflict.

Africans Angle News