The United States and Iran exchanged fresh missile barrages on Thursday, raising fears of a wider regional conflict and dimming hopes for a quick end to the five-month war.
After a brief lull over the weekend, fighting resumed across the Middle East. Jordan intercepted Iranian missiles for the second consecutive day, while Kuwait said an Iranian strike hit a Chinese company’s building, killing one worker.
Drone strikes also set fire to two natural gas vessels at Egypt’s Damietta port, and Saudi Arabia accused Iran-backed militias in Iraq of attacking its territory.
The conflict, which President Donald Trump initially predicted would last four to five weeks, has driven up fuel prices, disrupted global trade and heightened concerns over US weapons stockpiles. A new AP-NORC poll also showed Trump’s approval rating on Iran had slipped slightly.
“We note with concern that the security situation remains precarious,” Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said. “Talks are ongoing to normalize the situation, particularly the situation in the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.
The latest escalation followed what US Central Command described as “a heavy wave of strikes against Iran” in retaliation for an earlier Iranian missile attack on a US base in Jordan.
According to the US military, dozens of Revolutionary Guard targets, including command centres, missile and drone facilities, and coastal defence sites, were struck.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency said three people were killed and two injured in a strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest exchange came a day after the US and Saudi Arabia jointly targeted Iran-backed militias in Iraq, reportedly killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers.
In Egypt, authorities said preliminary investigations indicated a drone caused the fires aboard two natural gas vessels at Damietta port. No injuries were reported.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stopped short of denying Iranian involvement. “Egypt is an important friend and partner in the region, and its security is of utmost importance to us.”
He added on X, “We must all be vigilant against Israeli plots and false-flag operations designed to undermine regional peace. The threat is clear, mutual, and fearful of Muslim solidarity.”
The conflict has severely disrupted energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 per cent of global oil and natural gas supplies normally pass. According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, weekly vessel traffic through the strait fell from 82 ships during 13-19 July to just 39 during 20-26 July.
Saudi Arabia has also accused Iraqi militias and Yemen’s Houthi rebels of targeting its energy infrastructure. Although some Saudi oil exports continue through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, much of the crude is now being rerouted via Egypt in a longer and more costly journey.
Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman met Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday. According to officials familiar with the discussions, Riyadh joined US strikes on Iraqi militias to deter attacks on Saudi infrastructure while urging Washington and Tehran to return to negotiations.
