US expands bombardment against Iran, Iran retaliates against Gulf countries

The US launched a new phase on the ninth night of air strikes against Iran. In these attacks, conducted following the death of an American soldier in Iraq, military targets in Iran's northwestern and southern regions, primarily Tabriz, were struck. In response, Iran retaliated by conducting missile attacks against Bahrain, which hosts the US 5th Fleet, and Kuwait.

The escalation of the conflicts has led to a near-complete halt in maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and has deepened a global energy crisis. While the price of a barrel of Brent oil rose above 90 dollars, the number of American soldiers who have died since the war began on February 28 reached 17. Iranian officials, on the other hand, announced that at least 50 people were killed and 517 people were injured in the recent US attacks.

With the collapse of the temporary peace agreement between the parties, diplomatic channels are increasingly narrowing. While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that negotiations are still open, former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated that the tension over the Strait of Hormuz prevented the establishment of peace.