Hormuz Tensions Soar as Iran and US Escalate Conflict

Iran and the US have escalated their conflict over the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, Iran launched its largest missile barrage since the 40-day war, targeting US military positions in Jordan, including Al-Azraq air base. According to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the attack was retaliation for US attacks on and harassment of Iranian oil tankers.

The IRGC claimed it struck two US Navy destroyers, the USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) and USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), with ballistic missiles, causing significant damage. However, the US Central Command denied Iran's claims, stating that no US warship had been hit.

Separately, CENTCOM claimed it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday, including the Charminar, Kaviz, Horizon 1, Riesco, and Derya. The tankers had transported 45 million barrels of Iranian crude since May 2019.

In response to the US strikes, Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned that tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports should abandon their vessels due to potential targeting.