Tensions between the United States and Iran have intensified over control of the Strait of Hormuz after a fresh round of military exchanges raised fears of a wider regional conflict.

The escalation followed an Iranian strike on a commercial container ship near Oman, prompting U.S. forces to target Iranian air defence systems, radar installations, missile equipment and fast attack boats.

The U.S. Central Command described the Strait of Hormuz as an international waterway vital to global trade, insisting Iran has no authority over it. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard rejected the claim, maintaining that the strategic waterway is Iranian territory and warning against further U.S. interference.

The clashes come midway through a 60-day interim agreement aimed at paving the way for peace talks, with negotiations now stalled amid continued hostilities.

Missile sirens sounded in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while Kuwait activated its air defences as explosions were reported in several parts of Iran following the U.S. strikes.

The renewed confrontation has heightened concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies and international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for the world’s oil trade.