Fresh US strikes and Iran's regional retaliation push West Asia closer to wider war

Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi held a phone conversation with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to discuss the escalating conflict in the region and efforts to contain it, according to a statement posted on X.

The two ministers stressed the need to implement the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran and resume negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive solution to the crisis.

They said renewed diplomacy was essential to address the underlying causes of regional tensions and ensure long-term peace, security and stability.

Safadi and Sheikh Jarah also underlined the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law, amid growing concerns over disruptions to global shipping.

The two leaders condemned Iran’s attacks on Jordan, Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, expressing full support for the affected nations in responding to the strikes.

An Israeli air strike on Gaza City killed two people and injured several others, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, as reported by Al Jazeera.

The aid organisation said the strike targeted a tent in the Sheikh Ijlin neighbourhood of Gaza City, resulting in fatalities and multiple injuries.

The Israeli military had not immediately commented on the reported strike.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that Iran initiated the latest round of hostilities despite Washington giving Tehran an opportunity to reach a deal, describing the move as a “big mistake.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the United States had sought a diplomatic resolution before the conflict escalated.

“I wanted to give them a chance at making a deal,” he said.

Trump alleged that Iran chose to attack first, prompting a strong US military response.

“And they shot first, and that was a big mistake that they shot first because we have been knocking the hell out of them. They’re very difficult people,” he said.

US President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin withdrawing Israeli forces from Syria and Lebanon during a phone call last week, according to an Axios report citing US and Israeli officials.

The report said Trump told Netanyahu that the continued presence of Israeli troops in southern Syria could heighten regional tensions and increase the risk of further escalation.

According to a US official quoted by Axios, Trump told the Israeli leader: “They don’t want you there. You should redeploy.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) currently maintain a military presence in parts of southern Lebanon and southern Syria. According to the report, Trump also encouraged Israel to begin redeploying its forces from Lebanon as part of efforts to reduce tensions in the region.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Tuesday described the renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran as a “huge setback” for civilians, warning that the escalating conflict threatens peace and stability across the Middle East.

In a statement, Türk urged all sides to exercise restraint, saying the return to broader military confrontation would have serious humanitarian and human rights consequences.

“The return to wider hostilities in the Middle East between the US and Iran is a huge setback for civilians in the region and beyond. It undermines peace efforts and deepens instability, with grave risks for human rights across the entire region,” he said.

The UN rights chief said the renewed fighting could further destabilise the region and undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts, while increasing risks for civilians caught in the conflict.

Kuwait said on Tuesday that its air defence systems intercepted hostile aerial targets over the country’s airspace as Iran intensified missile attacks across the Gulf amid rising tensions with the United States and its allies over the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the General Staff of the Kuwait Armed Forces said the explosions heard across parts of the country were the result of its air defence systems engaging incoming threats.

“The General Staff of the Kuwait Armed Forces announces that any explosions are the result of the Air Defense systems intercepting hostile attacks,” the military said.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday withdrew his proposal to impose a 20 per cent fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying the plan would instead be replaced by “massive” trade and investment commitments from Gulf nations to the United States. He added, however, that the naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping would remain in place.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to all commercial vessels except those linked to Iran.

“The Strait of Hormuz is open to ALL Ship traffic except for Iran — and that is because of their lying, violent, malicious leadership, which is taking them down the path of TOTAL DESTRUCTION,” Trump wrote.

Seven Indian-flagged vessels are currently on the western side of the Strait of Hormuz and continue to remain in the Persian Gulf amid the ongoing military escalation between the United States and Iran, a government official said on Tuesday.

The official indicated that the ships are unlikely to leave the region until the security situation improves.

According to the official, the vessels have stayed in the Persian Gulf since before the latest escalation began and are not expected to sail through the Strait of Hormuz until tensions ease.

As in the early phase of the West Asia conflict, operators are adopting a cautious approach because of the volatile security environment.

The UK government has said it is in talks with the Trump administration over Washington’s reported proposal to impose a 20% toll on cargo ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, while making clear that it does not support the plan, according to the BBC.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK’s priority is to restore the ceasefire between the United States and Iran and work towards a lasting peace agreement.

The spokesperson added that toll-free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz should be restored, arguing that uninterrupted access to the key shipping route is essential to reducing the economic impact of the conflict on the UK and the global economy.

A Bahraini court has sentenced three people to life imprisonment after convicting them of spying for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to AFP.

Bahrain’s public prosecution said the three defendants were found guilty of collaborating with the IRGC and its operatives to support hostile and terrorist activities targeting the kingdom.

“Three defendants were charged with colluding with the terrorist Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its operatives to assist in hostile and terrorist acts against the Kingdom of Bahrain and to harm its interests; the court sentenced all of them to life imprisonment,” the prosecution said.

Iran’s embassy in Abu Dhabi has announced that 55 Iranian fishermen detained in the United Arab Emirates are being repatriated, according to Al Jazeera.

The embassy said 14 fishermen have already returned to Iran by sea, while the remaining detainees are expected to travel back by air in the coming days.

The fishermen were detained by the UAE Coast Guard in March and April after reported disruptions to their vessels’ navigation systems allegedly caused them to enter UAE waters, leading to their arrest.

Iran allegedly hacked mobile phone networks across the Middle East during the conflict to monitor the movements of US military personnel and contractors, according to a report by the Financial Times.

The report cited telecommunications data from the Mobile Surveillance Monitor research project and people familiar with the matter.

According to the report, officials in Gulf countries suspect Iran or its allies exploited roaming agreements with local telecom providers to pinpoint the locations of US personnel operating in the region.

One person familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that the alleged activity was aimed at tracking American movements during the war.

Gary Miller, a senior research fellow at cybersecurity watchdog Citizen Lab, said Iran has the capability to obtain real-time location data.

“Iran absolutely has capabilities to get real-time, immediate and continuous location information,” Miller was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

Israel on Tuesday said it is prepared to move ahead with plans for two “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon, expressing hope that ongoing discussions in Rome will help implement the proposal.

The initiative is linked to the planned withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of southern Lebanon under existing understandings between the two sides.

Speaking during the negotiations, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the current round of talks could pave the way for progress on the proposed zones.

“We are ready to move forward implementing these two pilot zones. I hope and tend to believe that this round of discussions in Rome will promote it,” Saar was quoted as saying by AFP.

The proposed “pilot zones” relate to areas in southern Lebanon where Israeli forces are expected to withdraw as part of broader efforts to ease tensions along the border.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi has described the ongoing war with Iran as “a disaster,” arguing that the military campaign has failed to achieve its stated goals.

Writing in an opinion piece for French newspaper Le Monde, Al Busaidi said the war “has achieved none of its officially assigned objectives” and criticised the absence of a United Nations mandate for the conflict.

Calling for a reassessment of the military approach, he wrote: “This war is a disaster.”

Two UAE-linked supertankers that came under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz were operating in “dark” mode, with their tracking signals switched off, according to a Bloomberg report.

The vessels were targeted during the latest escalation in the US-Iran conflict. ADNOC L&S, the shipping arm of the United Arab Emirates’ state-owned oil company, said one seafarer was killed and several others were injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s Ministry of Defence said Iran struck two of the ships with cruise missiles. Maritime security firms also reported that a third, smaller oil tanker came under attack in the same incident.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed energy security, trade, investment and the evolving situation in West Asia during his recent visit to four Gulf nations—Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit focused on strengthening India’s ties with key Gulf partners while addressing regional developments and shared strategic interests.

Global oil prices rallied sharply on Tuesday after the United States launched a fresh round of strikes on Iran, intensifying tensions in the Middle East. Markets also reacted to US President Donald Trump’s pledge to reimpose a naval blockade, raising concerns over potential disruptions to global oil supplies.

International benchmark Brent crude climbed 5.1 per cent to $87.51 a barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 3.9 per cent to $81.21 a barrel, as traders priced in the growing geopolitical risks.

Oil prices surged on Tuesday after fresh US strikes on Iran heightened concerns over the fragile truce between the two countries and the risk of further disruptions to global energy supplies. The rise in crude prices also renewed fears of higher inflation if tensions continue to escalate.

The latest escalation follows Iran’s attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and its subsequent announcement to close the strategic waterway, through which roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply passes.

At least nine Palestinians, including a 10-year-old boy and a senior Hamas police officer, were killed in an Israeli strike and gunfire in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to an Al Jazeera report.

The latest incident adds to the continuing violence despite the ceasefire that came into effect in October.

According to the report, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the truce began, while four Israeli soldiers have also been killed by militants during the same period.

US strikes on southern Iran reportedly expanded on Tuesday, with Iranian state media saying projectiles hit areas in Abadan county and the port city of Mahshahr.

The latest attacks come hours after IRNA reported that US missiles struck four locations in Bushehr, home to key nuclear facilities.

The reported strikes follow earlier explosions near Bandar Abbas, close to the Strait of Hormuz, marking a further escalation in the ongoing military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia, describing it as a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a post on social media platform X, Sharif said such actions risk further destabilising the region and undermining efforts to maintain peace.

Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia and expressed complete solidarity with the Kingdom during what he called a critical time.

The United States launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran on Tuesday, targeting coastal defence systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities, according to US Central Command.

Iran responded by launching attacks targeting Bahrain, Jordan and three tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions across West Asia.

The latest exchange has fuelled fears of a broader regional conflict, with experts warning that any US attempt to reopen the strategic waterway by force could require a significantly larger military deployment.

Iran on Tuesday condemned Britain’s proposed ban on support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), calling the move a hostile and unjustified action. The proposal also targets an Iran-linked group accused of carrying out a series of attacks against the Jewish community.

Iran’s foreign ministry said the British plan was “irresponsible” and violated the fundamental principles of international law.

Fresh explosions were reported across southern Iran on Tuesday, with the state-run IRNA news agency saying US missiles struck four locations in Bushehr, home to key nuclear facilities.

The reported strikes mark another escalation in the ongoing military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

Earlier, Iranian state television reported that at least five explosions were heard near the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas, close to the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state television reported that five explosions were heard near the port city of Bandar Abbas on Tuesday, close to the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, amid renewed fighting between Iran and the United States.

The broadcaster said the blasts occurred west of the city but did not provide further details on their cause or any damage.

The reported explosions come as tensions continue to rise around the Strait of Hormuz.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi has said complex diplomatic negotiations are underway to establish a lasting framework that guarantees freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Writing in the French daily Le Monde, he said Oman has a special responsibility because its territorial waters border the strategically vital waterway.

Al Busaidi said Oman is working with Iran, the other coastal state, and the wider international community to develop a realistic, sustainable and international law-compliant mechanism to safeguard maritime navigation.

Iran’s military has said the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened through what it described as “war, evil and American aggression.”

Army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia said the country’s armed forces would not back down over the strategically important waterway.

Akraminia said the only path to reopening the Strait of Hormuz is through respect for the rights of the Iranian people.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called for strict adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the unimpeded flow of maritime commerce and the safety of seafarers while launching India’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2028-29.

His remarks came amid heightened tensions in West Asia, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, where a recent Iranian attack on a UAE tanker killed an Indian seafarer and raised fresh concerns over regional maritime security.

Another tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting waters off Oman on Monday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

UKMTO said all crew members were safe and accounted for, with no environmental damage reported following the incident.

The latest attack comes after the agency earlier reported that one tanker had been struck near Limah, Oman, on the same day, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the region.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US air base in Jordan with ballistic missiles on Tuesday, while urging Jordanians to dismantle American military bases in the country.

Jordan’s armed forces said they intercepted and shot down four missiles that entered its airspace from Iran before they could reach their targets.

The missile attack came as the United States completed a fresh five-hour wave of strikes on Iran ordered by US President Donald Trump.