The U.S. military announced Wednesday it was conducting a 12th consecutive night of strikes against Iran, escalating attacks as both nations increasingly target civilian infrastructure. U.S. Central Command stated the airstrikes are intended to "further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters," aiming to restore control over the Strait of Hormuz and the flow of international shipping.
President Donald Trump warned that for every ship fired upon by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. would retaliate by bombing and destroying one bridge or power plant. "From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT," Trump wrote on social media.
The ongoing U.S. airstrikes occur amid stalled diplomatic efforts and entrenched positions on both sides regarding the crucial waterway for global energy. The conflict is contributing to worldwide economic disruption and rising fuel prices.
Iran's foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, stated that Iran would adopt an "eye for an eye" defense doctrine, warning that "Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response."
The U.S. conducted prior strikes into Wednesday, with Iranian air defenses reportedly engaging targets over the capital, Tehran. Iran launched a missile attack targeting a Jordanian city, with alerts also issued in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Iran has responded to U.S. actions by targeting energy infrastructure and desalination plants in neighboring Gulf countries.
International law generally prohibits such attacks on infrastructure unless it is being used for military purposes.
Economic Impact and Mounting Costs
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas passed during peacetime, has significantly impacted the global economy. An additional threat from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen to target shipping in the Red Sea further jeopardizes another trade chokepoint.
President Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday for the arrival of the remains of four U.S. service members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated the war had cost the U.S. $37.5 billion to date.
Benchmark Brent crude oil prices have risen to over $93 a barrel, up from less than $72 earlier in the month. Gasoline prices are also increasing.
Iran asserts its right to manage traffic and potentially charge fees in the strait, which was previously open and toll-free. The country has attacked ships navigating a route overseen by U.S. forces, intended to be outside Tehran's control.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, indicated that the situation in the strait would not revert to pre-war conditions.
Regional Tensions and Diplomatic Stalemate
Jordan's military reported intercepting four Iranian missiles over Aqaba and two in uninhabited areas, with visible smoke plumes captured on video from the nearby Israeli city of Eilat. Jordan also reported intercepting four Iranian drones.
Iran has largely avoided striking Israel since hostilities resumed, apparently to prevent its re-entry into the conflict. However, the attack near Eilat has heightened concerns about a further widening of the conflict following the collapse of an agreement to halt hostilities.
Missile alerts were also issued in Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia advised residents in the Persian Gulf city of Dammam to seek shelter. Saudi authorities later stated the danger had passed.
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported explosions across several provinces. The Iranian Health Ministry stated that U.S. strikes over the preceding 11 days had resulted in 53 deaths, including six women and three children, and nearly 600 injuries.
Diplomatic efforts have shown little public progress. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan, a mediator in the conflict, to explore diplomatic avenues. However, the terms of any potential arrangement to end the war remain unclear, with the conflict now largely centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Interior Ministry spokesman, Ali Zeinivand, affirmed that "diplomacy isn't called off" and that messages were being exchanged, according to IRNA.
An Arab diplomat expressed growing pessimism among Gulf states regarding de-escalation efforts and concern over the latest threats. The diplomat, speaking anonymously, noted that regional countries, along with Pakistan and Turkey, are pushing for de-escalation, but prospects for improvement appear bleak.
At a regional summit, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Iran's actions, stating that allowing a nation to control an international waterway and impose tolls would set a dangerous precedent. Rubio indicated that the U.S. remains open to negotiations but believes Iran is not currently serious about them, thus prioritizing the protection of shipping.
In response to Iran's attacks, the U.S. reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports.
Potential Nuclear Site Targeting
In remarks from the Oval Office, President Trump expressed little interest in immediate talks. He also signaled that U.S. forces might soon target an under-construction Iranian nuclear site known as Pickaxe Mountain, located near the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. The Natanz facility was previously bombed by the U.S. during a 2025 conflict between Iran and Israel.
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful, even as it has resumed enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels since the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal under the Trump administration.