AMMAN/WASHINGTON DC — Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles toward a military base in Jordan used by U.S. forces on Wednesday, escalating an already widening confrontation with Washington following the destruction of five Iranian oil tankers by the United States.

Jordanian authorities said their air defenses intercepted 18 of the 20 Iranian missiles launched toward the kingdom. The remaining two missiles fell in unpopulated areas, according to Jordanian officials. A U.S. official said American military personnel in Jordan were accounted for following the attack. There were no immediate reports of U.S. casualties.

Iran said the missile attack was carried out in retaliation for recent U.S. military strikes against Iranian oil tankers. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that Tehran will intensify its response to further American attacks.

The target was the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base near Al-Azraq in eastern Jordan, a strategically important facility that hosts U.S. military personnel and aircraft. The base has played a significant role in American military operations in the region.

The missile attack was part of a broader escalation on Wednesday. Iran also said it had attacked 10 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, including oil tankers, after the United States destroyed five Iranian tankers. Washington has disputed Iranian claims that U.S. naval vessels were hit.

The latest exchange marks one of the most significant escalations in the six-month-old U.S.-Iran conflict. The confrontation has increasingly spread beyond Iran and the United States, drawing neighboring countries and international shipping into the crisis.

The Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of the escalation. The strategic waterway is one of the world’s most important routes for oil shipments, and renewed attacks on commercial vessels have raised fears of major disruptions to global energy supplies.

The developments have already shaken international energy markets. Brent crude rose sharply on Wednesday, with prices moving above the $100-a-barrel level amid fears that the fighting could disrupt oil production and shipping in the Gulf.

The United States has said its military operations against Iranian vessels were carried out in response to attacks by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on an American warship. Iran, meanwhile, has threatened further retaliation and warned that the area of restricted maritime activity around the Strait of Hormuz could be expanded.

The latest missile attack on Jordan raises concerns that the conflict could increasingly involve U.S. military facilities and American allies across the Middle East, increasing the risk of a broader regional war.

With Iran threatening further retaliation and the United States continuing military operations against Iranian targets, governments across the region are closely monitoring the situation for signs of another major escalation.

Shibbir Ahmed, NEW YORK — Oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel on Wednesday as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran raised fresh concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies and shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose above the $100 mark as investors reacted to the widening confrontation in the Middle East. The surge reflects growing fears that continued military escalation could threaten oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments.

The latest increase came amid heightened tensions following U.S. military action involving Iranian oil tankers and Iran’s subsequent missile attacks toward a U.S.-used military facility in Jordan.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a central focus of the crisis. A prolonged disruption in the waterway could have significant consequences for global oil markets because a substantial share of the world’s petroleum shipments passes through the narrow strategic corridor.

Higher crude prices are also raising concerns about renewed inflationary pressure. A sustained increase in energy costs could push up prices for gasoline, transportation and other goods, potentially complicating efforts by central banks to control inflation.

Financial markets have responded cautiously to the escalation. Investors are closely watching developments between Washington and Tehran for signs that the conflict could expand further or threaten critical energy infrastructure and shipping routes. The rise above $100 a barrel represents a major psychological threshold for global energy markets and underscores the economic risks posed by the widening U.S.-Iran confrontation.

Analysts say oil prices could remain volatile as long as uncertainty persists over the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of further military escalation in the region.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC— U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States may strike Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “very soon,” raising the possibility of a further escalation in the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran. Trump’s remarks came as tensions between the United States and Iran remain high, with Washington continuing military and economic pressure on Tehran.

According to Reuters, Pickaxe Mountain is located near Iran’s already heavily damaged Natanz uranium-enrichment complex. The site contains deeply buried tunnel complexes and has been identified by U.S. and Israeli officials as a location of concern because of its potential connection to Iran’s nuclear activities.

Trump signals possible new strike

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said the United States could target Pickaxe Mountain soon. His comments represent a renewed warning over the facility after he previously threatened military action against the site.

Trump has repeatedly said that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a central U.S. objective. In a separate interview aired this week, he said the United States was closely monitoring Pickaxe Mountain and claimed American surveillance capabilities provide information about activity at the location.

The president’s latest comments do not establish that a strike has been ordered or that one is imminent. They indicate that military action against the site remains under consideration.

What is Pickaxe Mountain?

Pickaxe Mountain, also known by its Persian name Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, is an underground facility being developed south of the Natanz nuclear complex, roughly 225 kilometers (140 miles) from Tehran.

The facility is located beneath a mountain, making it considerably more difficult to attack than above-ground nuclear infrastructure. Satellite imagery and open-source assessments have shown extensive construction and tunnel systems at the site.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has not had direct access to the underground facility, leaving uncertainty over precisely what equipment or nuclear material may be located there.

Why the site is important

The concern surrounding Pickaxe Mountain centers on its potential ability to protect sensitive nuclear equipment underground. Reports have suggested that Iran could potentially move uranium-enrichment centrifuges or other nuclear-related equipment into deeply buried facilities. However, the exact contents and operational status of Pickaxe Mountain remain uncertain.

Trump previously acknowledged that Iran may have moved centrifuges to the site but said the presence of centrifuges alone would not necessarily mean Iran possessed nuclear material there. The facility’s depth also presents a significant military challenge. Earlier reporting has noted that even the most powerful U.S. bunker-busting weapons may face difficulties reaching installations buried deep beneath the mountain.

Comes amid wider U.S.-Iran confrontation

Trump’s latest warning comes amid continuing military confrontation between the United States and Iran. The United States has also intensified economic pressure on Tehran. On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Türkiye-based Golden Global Bank and two subsidiaries, accusing them of helping Iranian financial institutions access international banking networks.

The Treasury said the action was part of Operation Economic Outcast, a broader campaign aimed at disrupting Iranian financial networks and restricting resources that Washington says support Iran’s regional activities. The combination of military pressure and financial sanctions reflects Washington’s continuing effort to pressure Tehran over its nuclear program and other regional activities.

Risk of further escalation

A U.S. strike on Pickaxe Mountain could mark another significant development in the conflict because of the facility’s location and its reported underground construction. Any attack could also increase regional tensions and potentially affect ongoing diplomatic efforts involving Iran and international mediators.

For now, Trump’s statement indicates that the facility remains under close U.S. surveillance and that military action remains a possibility. Whether Washington ultimately carries out an attack, however, remains unclear. The situation is developing.