US President Donald Trump has threatened further attacks on Iran, saying Washington could strike “anytime we want”, after Iranian officials said the latest US strikes killed 18 people and wounded at least 108.
The strikes hit cities and areas along Iran’s southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz, including a wedding party in Kuhestak. Iran then launched attacks on US bases in Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan, in the biggest exchange between the two sides since July.
Iran reports civilian deaths in coastal strikes
Iran’s Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi said two children were among those killed, including a four-year-old who died in the Kuhestak strike in Sirik county. At least four people died in that attack, according to Iranian officials.
Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called the Kuhestak attack a “war crime” and rejected US claims that its military does not target civilians. Iranian media said funerals for the four Kuhestak victims were scheduled for Thursday. For additional context, see “Four killed and 68 injured in Iran wedding blast”.
Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the conflict
The six-month war began after US and Israeli strikes on February 18, according to the account of events, and Iran subsequently shut the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway had carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil before the conflict, but only a handful of vessels now pass through each day.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said two oil tankers hit mines and were disabled during an unauthorised attempt to cross. Saudi shipping company Bahri separately reported that two Filipino sailors were killed in an attack on its vessel earlier in the week.
Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority added 11 ships to its blacklist this week, bringing the number added over the latest two weeks to 56. It said the vessels could face fines, seizure or confiscation unless they provide required documentation before attempting the crossing. A related part of this story is covered in “Why the Strait of Hormuz crisis is reshaping global shipping”.
The conflict is increasing pressure on Washington
Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, rose to about $95, more than 30 percent above its level at the start of the war. The conflict has also disrupted the global economy and created political difficulties for Trump’s Republican Party before the November midterm elections.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll in August found that 31 percent of Americans approved of the war while 63 percent disapproved. Trump’s approval rating fell from 40 percent to 33 percent after the conflict began, according to the same polling. Trump said the elections were not influencing his Iran strategy and that he did not expect the renewed campaign to last long.
Trump said US forces had strong control of the Strait of Hormuz and were helping move vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil. A retired Pakistani lieutenant-general, Tariq Khan, said the United States had not restored the maritime conditions that existed before the war and was using military resources to address a problem created by the conflict. The development of this issue can be followed in “Iran and Oman weigh a temporary shipping route through Hormuz”.
What happens next
Iranian media said the funerals for the four people killed in the Kuhestak strike would be held on Thursday. Trump said the United States was prepared to carry out another attack.
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