US and Iran escalate conflict around Strait of Hormuz as energy targets hit

US Central Command announced a new series of large-scale strikes against Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The military action followed an Iranian attempt to deploy naval mines in the strategic shipping channel, which American forces stated have been fully cleared.

The strikes mark a broader escalation into commercial maritime traffic, following a 5 September confrontation where US forces hit three Iranian oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at American warships. US President Donald Trump issued further warnings against Tehran, threatening retaliatory strikes on Iranian civil infrastructure, including power stations and bridges, if maritime disruption continues. Media analyses suggest the conflict is increasingly shifting toward commercial energy infrastructure and drone-driven warfare.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV