Trump Urges Allies to Keep Strait of Hormuz Open as Iran Says Blockade Targets US, Israel
The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to escalate, with new airstrikes and missile exchanges reported across several parts of the Middle East.
Amid the rising tensions, Donald Trump has called on countries that depend on Gulf energy supplies to help ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for international shipping.
The strategic waterway, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, has become a central concern as the war spreads across the region.
Strikes reported in Iran’s Isfahan province
Missile attacks carried out by US and Israeli forces reportedly struck multiple locations in Isfahan Province, a key industrial region in central Iran. Local reports indicated that at least 15 people were killed when a factory producing household appliances was hit, while many others were injured.
The city of Isfahan has been repeatedly targeted since the conflict began, partly because the region hosts important industrial complexes as well as sensitive military and nuclear facilities.
Additional bombardments were reported in several Iranian cities, including Tehran, Tabriz, Bandar Abbas, and Sirjan. Iranian authorities said air defence systems intercepted several drones over the capital.
Drone interceptions across Gulf states
Regional tensions have also spread to neighbouring countries. Defence officials in Saudi Arabia reported intercepting several drones over Riyadh and eastern areas of the kingdom.
Meanwhile, authorities in Kuwait said five drones had been shot down within the past day, while separate strikes damaged parts of the radar system at Kuwait International Airport. Two missiles also struck near Ahmad Al‑Jaber Air Base, leaving three soldiers injured.
Security concerns have also prompted the United States Department of State to order nonessential American personnel and their families to leave Oman.
Fighting spreads to Israel and Lebanon
Missile alerts were triggered across parts of Israel, with air defence systems intercepting several projectiles launched from Iran. Debris from intercepted missiles reportedly sparked fires in areas near Ramla and Holon, though no casualties were immediately reported.
The violence has also intensified in Lebanon, where Israeli strikes in the south reportedly killed several civilians and displaced thousands more since the war began.
Iran rejects claims about Hormuz blockade
Iranian officials insist they are not blocking international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, said the waterway remains open for global trade but warned that vessels connected to the United States and Israel could face restrictions.
Tehran has also accused Washington and Tel Aviv of launching attacks from locations in the Gulf region, warning that any territory used to target Iranian infrastructure could face retaliation.
Regional tensions continue to rise
The conflict has increasingly drawn in neighbouring states and armed groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi Movement in Yemen, raising fears of a broader regional war.
With missile interceptions reported across several countries and airstrikes continuing inside Iran, diplomatic pressure is mounting internationally to prevent further escalation in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
