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, WASHINGTON DC — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has captured a U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, in the latest development in the escalating confrontation between Tehran and Washington.

Iranian state media identified the vessel as a Dive-LD, a large autonomous underwater vehicle manufactured by California-based defense company Anduril. The approximately 19-foot (5.8-meter) unmanned submersible is designed for missions including seabed mapping, mine detection, intelligence gathering and inspection of underwater infrastructure. The IRGC described the operation as a complex intelligence and military mission and claimed that Iranian forces had “trapped” one of the most advanced unmanned submarines operated by the United States.

However, the U.S. military gave a significantly different account of the incident. A Pentagon spokesperson acknowledged that a U.S. underwater drone had been lost, but said the vehicle had malfunctioned more than a day earlier while surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations. According to the Pentagon, the drone was an older model and did not carry classified sonar or radar equipment or collect sensitive data.

Anduril also confirmed the loss of one of its underwater vehicles and emphasized that the Dive-LD was designed to operate in dangerous environments where losing the vehicle was considered a possibility.

Reuters said it could not independently verify Iran’s claim that it had captured the vehicle through a deliberate intelligence operation. The Dive-LD can reportedly operate for up to 10 days and is designed to reach depths of approximately 6,000 meters (19,700 feet). The system is part of the U.S. military’s growing use of autonomous underwater and surface vessels for surveillance, mine detection and other missions without putting American personnel directly at risk.

The incident comes as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to rise. Commercial shipping through the strategic waterway has fallen sharply amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran confrontation, while oil prices have climbed above $100 a barrel amid fears of further disruption to global energy supplies.

TEHRAN — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Wednesday that it launched a missile attack against a U.S.-linked military base in Jordan, escalating tensions after American forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers. The latest exchange marks another sharp escalation in the six-month-old U.S.-Iran war, with the conflict increasingly threatening regional security and global energy supplies.

Iran said its missile strike targeted the Al-Azraq air base in Jordan, which hosts U.S. military assets. Iranian state media reported that the operation damaged maintenance and repair facilities, aircraft deployment areas and shelters. Those damage claims could not immediately be independently verified. Jordan’s military said it intercepted 18 ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the kingdom. No casualties were immediately reported.

The Iranian attack came after U.S. forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday. The U.S. military said the crews were ordered to abandon the vessels before they were struck. The operation followed an Iranian attack targeting a U.S. Navy warship. Iranian officials had previously warned that American military bases in the region would be targeted if Washington attacked Iranian oil tankers.

Iran has also threatened to target oil tankers operating near U.S.-allied Kuwait and Bahrain. The threats have heightened fears of further disruption to commercial shipping across the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

The strategic waterway has become a major flashpoint in the conflict. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply, raising concerns about global oil and gas supplies. Reuters reported Wednesday that only six commodity vessels transited the strait on Tuesday, well below the recent average.

The escalation has also pushed oil prices higher. Brent crude approached $100 a barrel on Wednesday, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude traded above $94 a barrel as markets assessed the risk of further supply disruptions.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Washington will continue responding to Iranian attacks. The latest U.S. strikes on Iranian tankers were described by American officials as retaliation for attacks on U.S. naval forces.

Iranian state media also claimed that the Revolutionary Guard had attacked two U.S. destroyers with ballistic missiles. The claim had not been independently confirmed by the U.S. military and should be treated as an Iranian claim.

The latest confrontation comes as both sides remain locked in a wider struggle over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments. With Iran threatening further attacks on shipping and U.S. forces continuing operations against Iranian assets, concerns are growing that the conflict could expand further across the Middle East and place additional pressure on global energy markets.

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.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC — President Donald Trump has warned Iran that the United States is prepared to launch additional military strikes, as the latest round of fighting between Washington and Tehran threatens to widen into a broader regional conflict.

Trump’s warning came after U.S. forces conducted a major wave of strikes against Iranian targets, which the U.S. military said included air-defense systems, radar installations, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said the United States had hit Iran “very hard” and was prepared to carry out another attack whenever he believed it was necessary. The warning came as Iran continued its retaliation against U.S. positions and regional countries hosting American forces.

Iran launches missiles and drones toward Kuwait

The conflict took another dangerous turn Thursday when Kuwait said its air-defense systems confronted incoming Iranian missiles and drones. Kuwait hosts several U.S. military facilities and has become increasingly exposed to the consequences of the widening U.S.–Iran confrontation. The Kuwaiti military said the attacks were hostile missile and drone strikes originating from Iran, although it did not immediately report casualties.

The latest attack follows Iranian strikes and attempted strikes against locations associated with U.S. forces across the Gulf and surrounding region. The developments have raised fears that the conflict could increasingly involve U.S. allies and partners, turning the confrontation between Washington and Tehran into a wider regional crisis.

U.S. strikes target Iranian military infrastructure

The Pentagon’s Central Command said the latest U.S. operation targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities and military infrastructure. Among the targets were air-defense sites, radar systems, maritime equipment, communications facilities and capabilities that the United States says could threaten shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The waterway is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying a significant portion of global oil shipments. The renewed fighting has already disrupted commercial shipping through the area. Reuters reported Thursday that only six vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, compared with a normal daily average of about 13.

Civilian casualties increase pressure on Washington

The latest U.S. strikes have also generated concern over civilian casualties. Iranian officials reported that a strike in southern Iran hit a wedding gathering, with civilians among those killed and wounded. U.S. Central Command said the American military does not target civilians and said it was reviewing the reports.

Reuters reported Thursday that Iranian officials had reported 18 civilian deaths and more than 100 people wounded in the latest U.S. strikes. The competing claims have become another source of tension as the two sides present sharply different accounts of the conflict.

The United States maintains that its operations are directed against Iranian military capabilities, while Iranian officials accuse Washington of attacking civilian infrastructure and violating international law.

Iran reports military casualties

Iran has also suffered significant military losses during the latest American strikes. According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, at least 13 Iranian military personnel have been killed in U.S. strikes this week. The reported dead include members of Iran’s regular military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its paramilitary forces.

The casualties come after a month-long lull in major direct hostilities. The latest fighting began again over the weekend, with the United States saying it had attacked Iranian launchers preparing to fire rockets into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran then retaliated against U.S.-linked targets in the region.

Gulf states caught between Washington and Tehran

The widening conflict is placing America’s Gulf partners in an increasingly difficult position. Countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates host important U.S. military facilities while maintaining their own relationships with the United States and other international powers.

Iran’s attacks or attempted attacks against locations in these countries raise the possibility that regional governments could become directly involved in the conflict even if they do not seek confrontation with Tehran.

Kuwait’s latest experience illustrates the problem. Although Kuwait is not a direct party to the U.S.–Iran war, its territory and military infrastructure are exposed because of the presence of American forces. Analysts have warned that Gulf states could face increasing pressure if Washington and Tehran continue exchanging attacks.

Strait of Hormuz becomes critical flashpoint

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the most important flashpoints in the conflict. The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is critical to international energy markets. Any prolonged disruption could affect oil supplies, shipping costs and fuel prices around the world.

Oil markets reacted sharply to the latest escalation. Reuters reported Thursday that Brent crude rose to around $96 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude approached $92 a barrel, putting both benchmarks near six-week highs. Higher energy prices could eventually increase transportation and consumer costs and add to inflationary pressures in the United States and other economies.

Pentagon prepares for a prolonged conflict

The military situation also suggests that Washington is preparing for the possibility that the conflict could last longer than initially expected.The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended Middle East deployments into 2027. Approximately 50,000 U.S. troops remain in the region, supported by warships, air-defense systems, fighter aircraft and other military assets.

The deployment decisions indicate that, despite Trump’s public suggestion that the renewed campaign would not continue indefinitely, the Pentagon is maintaining a substantial military presence in the region.

That creates a complicated policy situation for the Trump administration. On one hand, the president has signaled that he wants to maintain pressure on Iran and has repeatedly warned Tehran against attacking American forces. On the other, prolonged military operations carry significant costs and risks, particularly if American forces become increasingly exposed to Iranian retaliation.

Political pressure grows ahead of midterm elections

The conflict is also unfolding against the backdrop of the November 2026 midterm elections. Reuters has reported that some Trump administration officials want to avoid allowing the war to dominate the political environment before voters go to the polls, while internal discussions have continued over whether the military campaign should be expanded or brought toward an end.

That creates a difficult political calculation for the White House. A continued military campaign could increase pressure over casualties, military spending and civilian deaths.But stepping back without achieving the administration’s stated objectives could create its own political challenges.

Trump has attempted to maintain flexibility, suggesting that the United States can strike again if necessary while also indicating that the renewed campaign will not necessarily continue indefinitely.

No clear diplomatic breakthrough

Despite occasional references to diplomacy, there is currently no clear indication of a comprehensive agreement between Washington and Tehran that would bring the conflict to an end. Instead, the latest developments point toward continued military pressure and retaliation.

The danger is that an attack initially directed at U.S. or Iranian military targets could trigger a chain reaction involving Gulf states, commercial shipping or other regional actors. The reported Iranian attack on Kuwait demonstrates how quickly the geographic scope of the conflict can expand.

A conflict with global consequences

The U.S.–Iran confrontation is no longer simply a bilateral military dispute. It has become a major international security and economic issue. The conflict is affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing oil prices higher and forcing Gulf governments to strengthen their defenses. It is also placing thousands of American service members across the Middle East in an increasingly dangerous environment.

For Iran, continued U.S. strikes threaten military infrastructure and economic interests while creating pressure on Tehran to demonstrate that it can retaliate. For Washington, the central challenge is balancing military pressure against the risk of a wider war.

Trump’s latest warning that the United States can launch another strike whenever it chooses underscores the uncertainty. Whether that warning becomes another military operation or part of a broader effort to force Iran back toward negotiations could determine the next phase of the conflict.

For now, however, the message from Washington is clear the United States has not ruled out further strikes, while Iran continues to retaliate. And with Gulf states increasingly exposed and the Strait of Hormuz under growing pressure, the consequences of the next move could extend far beyond the battlefield.