On a day when the long rivalry between Washington and Tehran slid further toward open confrontation, Iranian missiles aimed at an American base in Jordan were brought down before they could land, and the response came in several forms at once: a vow of reprisal, a fresh round of sanctions, and joint strikes in Iraq that drew Saudi Arabia into the fight. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that carries a large share of the world's oil, stands at the heart of the quarrel, and its uncertain future is now being felt in the price of fuel far beyond the Gulf. What began as a dispute over a shared
US Denies Iran Strike Destroyed F-35s as Missiles, Sanctions and Gulf Strikes Escalate the War
The PMF says at least 20 fighters were killed and 32 wounded in joint US-Saudi strikes on its bases in Iraq.
No group has claimed responsibility for the drone at Damietta.
Mark
Start with the headline event. Missiles were fired at a base in Jordan. What actually happened?
Mimi
They were intercepted by US air defences before reaching the base, and Iran has confirmed it launched them. Trump then promised a forceful response.
Luke
Worth noting that the confirmation of the launch comes from Iran, and the interception comes from the US account. Nothing here describes damage, because reportedly there was none.
Mark
Then the sanctions. Why target tankers and Chinese firms?
Mimi
Washington says Iran uses insurance and maritime networks to earn money from Hormuz shipping, money it says supports the IRGC. Six of the 10 entities are China-based.
Luke
That's the US accusation. The reporting doesn't show how much revenue is involved, so I wouldn't put a number on it.
Mark
And the strikes in Iraq?
Mimi
The US and Saudi Arabia hit PMF bases. It's the first publicly acknowledged Saudi participation of that kind. The PMF says 20 fighters died and 32 were wounded.
Luke
Again, those casualty figures come from the PMF. No independent count is given.
Mark
What about the drone at Damietta?
Mimi
A fire on a US-owned gas storage tanker spread to another ship. Egypt reported no casualties.
Luke
But Egypt didn't mention a drone, and nobody has claimed it. The drone detail is unconfirmed by Egyptian officials, and who did it is simply unknown.
O Pulso
- Iranian ballistic missiles streaked toward a US base in Jordan, and only air defences stood between the strike and American troops.
- Trump's promise of forceful retaliation hangs over the region while Tehran confirms the launch and refuses to back down.
- Washington is tightening the economic vise with sanctions on ten entities and eight tankers, aimed at cutting off Iran's revenue from Hormuz shipping.
- US and Saudi strikes on Iran-backed PMF bases in Iraq have killed at least 20 fighters, and Baghdad calls it a sovereignty violation.
- Brent crude leapt above $90 a barrel as traders braced for a Hormuz standoff that could choke global supply.
- With Iran rejecting an Omani plan for joint management of the strait, the conflict is heading deeper into its fifth month with no clear exit.
On a day when the long rivalry between Washington and Tehran slid further toward open confrontation, Iranian missiles aimed at an American base in Jordan were brought down before they could land, and the response came in several forms at once: a vow of reprisal, a fresh round of sanctions, and joint strikes in Iraq that drew Saudi Arabia into the fight. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that carries a large share of the world's oil, stands at the heart of the quarrel, and its uncertain future is now being felt in the price of fuel far beyond the Gulf. What began as a dispute over a shared waterway has become a test of how far each side will go before the costs, human and economic, force a pause.
Iranian ballistic missiles were fired toward American forces in the Middle East, and US air defences intercepted them before they reached a base in Jordan. Tehran has confirmed the launch and said it also targeted ships in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump answered with a blunt vow of forceful reprisal, promising that the United States would beat the worst out of Iran.
Washington then turned to money. New sanctions target ten entities and eight tankers, six of them China-based firms, which the US says have helped Tehran earn revenue from shipping through the strait. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said America would not let Iran hold global commerce hostage or fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps through international shipping.
The pressure reached into Iraq, where the US and Saudi Arabia jointly struck bases of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces. It was the first publicly acknowledged Saudi role in such operations alongside Washington. The PMF says at least 20 fighters were killed and 32 wounded, and Iraq condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty.
Elsewhere, a drone struck the Energos Winter, a US-owned floating gas storage tanker at Egypt's Damietta port, and the fire spread to a second vessel. No one was hurt, though Egypt's statement did not mention a drone, and no group has claimed the attack. Iran also rejected an Omani proposal to manage the Strait of Hormuz jointly, and the fighting, now in its fifth month, has grown out of the collapse of an interim US-Iran agreement on the waterway. Oil markets reacted sharply, with Brent crude jumping more than 8% to above $90 a barrel.
Iranian ballistic missiles were fired toward American forces in the Middle East, and US air defences intercepted them before they reached a military base in Jordan. Iran has confirmed it launched missiles at US bases in Jordan and that it targeted ships in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump responded with a crude vow of a forceful reprisal, saying the US would beat the worst out of Iran.
Hours later, Washington turned to sanctions. The new measures target 10 entities and eight tankers, including six China-based firms. The US accuses Tehran of using insurance and maritime networks to earn revenue from shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US would not let Iran hold global commerce hostage or fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps through international shipping.
The military pressure extended into Iraq. The US and Saudi Arabia jointly struck bases of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces, the PMF. It is the first time Riyadh's participation in such operations alongside Washington has been publicly acknowledged. The PMF says at least 20 of its fighters were killed and 32 wounded. Iraq condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty.
Another incident came at Egypt's Damietta port, where a drone struck the Energos Winter, a US-owned floating gas storage tanker. A fire broke out and spread to a second vessel. Egypt confirmed the fire and said no one was hurt, but its statement did not mention a drone attack. No group has claimed responsibility.
Iran, for its part, rejected an Omani proposal for jointly managing the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway sits at the centre of the dispute. The fighting is now in its fifth month, after a US-Iran interim agreement on the strait's future collapsed.
Markets reacted quickly. Brent crude jumped more than 8% to above $90 a barrel, as traders feared disruption to one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.
Elsewhere in the region, Israeli forces carried out powerful overnight strikes across southern Lebanon, according to Al-Jazeera, citing Lebanon's National News Agency. Explosions hit Yohmor al-Chqif, Arnoun and Kfar Tebnit, and the shockwaves were reportedly felt as far away as Iqlim al-Kharrub and Khalde. Near Beaufort Castle in the Marjayoun district, blasts shattered windows and damaged homes in the town of al-Qlaiaa, where residents described a lingering smell of gunpowder. The agency also reported heavy machine-gun fire and artillery shelling around al-Mansouri and Biyout al-Sayyad in the Tyre district, and tank movements from the Bar'ashit hill towards Aynata in Bint Jbeil.
On Gaza, the Board of Peace said on X that its actionable plan aims to disarm Hamas and prepare the ground for an Israeli withdrawal. It said it is working with the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza on a phased transfer of authority, backed by the International Stabilisation Force.
Watch for Iran's next move after Trump's threat, the standoff over Hormuz shipping, and whether the sanctions and oil-price swings deepen the conflict.
Citações Notáveis
The US will not allow Iran to hold global commerce hostage or finance the IRGC through international shipping.— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (paraphrased)
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