U.S. Broadens Airstrikes Against Iran Targeting Surveillance and Air Defenses

The conflict between the United States and Iran escalated significantly over the last 24 hours as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a second series of strikes targeting Iranian surveillance capabilities, radar installations, and air-defense systems near the Strait of Hormuz. Described by Washington as a proportional response in 'self-defence,' the operation utilized Tomahawk missiles and carrier-based aircraft. President Trump has signaled a potential widening of the conflict, indicating that he is considering strikes on Iran’s power plants and civilian infrastructure if a peace deal is not finalized, warning that Iran would be hit 'very hard.' In response, Tehran has paused diplomatic talks, claiming that negotiations cannot proceed while the U.S. violates the current ceasefire. Iranian officials accused the U.S. of damaging civilian water facilities in southern Iran. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed its Aerospace Force targeted U.S. personnel at an airbase in Jordan, alongside additional strikes in Bahrain and Kuwait. While Iran claimed a U.S. warship was hit and the Strait of Hormuz closed, CENTCOM has rejected these reports, maintaining that maritime traffic remains active and military operations are continuing without disruption. The military escalation has sent shockwaves through global energy markets, with crude oil prices climbing above $92 per barrel. Regionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has initiated high-level calls with Turkish and Saudi Arabian officials to manage the fallout. Despite the public breakdown in U.S.-Iran negotiations, these back-channel communications suggest regional powers are actively working to prevent a full-scale regional war.