A new flare-up in the war in the Middle East, with attacks on both sides by the US and Iran.

The US armed forces conducted bombings on Iran, which announced that it had retaliated against US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrrain and signaled that henceforth all ships attempting to cross the Sea Strait of Hormuz will be considered targets.

The US bombings, which targeted “military surveillance facilities, communications systems and anti-aircraft defence facilities”, according to a US military statement, were launched after the Donald Trump accused Tehran of dodging negotiations to end the war in the Middle East.

“We were truly close to reaching an agreement, butthey won’t stop misleading us, they think we’re suckers,” the US president said, addressing the press yesterday.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, for his part, deemed Iran“playing cat and mouse” in the talks. “If we have to negotiate by dropping bombs, we will negotiate with bombs, and we are very gifted at it,” he threatened.

The US and Iran had already exchanged blows on Tuesday night, despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 8 after five weeks of war, and in theory has not ended.

Explosions were heard in the early hours of the morning on Qeshm Island, Minab, Shirik and the port of Bandar Abbas in the south, according to Iranian media.

In retaliation for the new US strikes, the Revolutionary Guards – Iran’s ideological army – announced that they had launched unmanned aerial assault vehicles against the military bases of Ali let Salem and Ahmad al-Jaber, in Kuwait, and Sheikh Isa Air Base, in Bahrain. Earlier Iranian media reported that the general headquarters of the US 5th Fleet in Bahrain was also targeted with drones and that telecommunications antennas and Patriot missile defense system radars were hit.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said via X that alarm sirens were activated. In Kuwait, the military said it was facing “hostile aerial targets” and the civil aviation authority said it was “temporarily” closing the small emirate’s airspace.

Tehran warned that it would henceforth target any ship attempting to cross the Sea Strait of Hormuz, of strategic importance as it is through it that a fifth of oil and LNG is normally exported to international markets.

“Hell”

“After repeated violations of the ceasefire by the US enemy, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until further notice,” the Revolutionary Guards navy said. “No ship is to leave its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Any approach to the Strait of Hormuz will be considered collaboration with the enemy,” it asserted.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic’s navy said it had “hit” two vessels attempting to cross the strait, without further clarification.

“Are you making the holy Strait of Hormuz dangerous? We will make the area hell for you,” Revolutionary Guards air force commander Sardar Mousavi threatened.

Washington – which enforces a blockade of Iranian ports – has denied that the Strait is closed. “Commercial ships continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz tonight,” the US Joint Forces Command’s joint command responsible for the Middle East (CENTCOM, “Central Command”) assured via X.

It also confirmed that US ships were hit.

Oil prices are rising

The deteriorating situation in the Gulf continues to drive up energy costs. Earlier, the price of a barrel of North Sea Brent was up 1.7% at $94.68 and that of US WTI rose 2% to $91.84.

In the other main theatre of war, Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu yesterday urged Lebanese citizens to join the war against Hezbollah, arguing that the country is being “taken hostage” by that Iranian-affiliated faction.

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