The Gulf has erupted into chaos as US forces expand their strikes against Iran and impose a naval blockade on its ports, threatening to paralyse global energy markets. The escalation comes as Washington responds to escalating Iranian aggression in the region, with Tehran vowing to exact revenge for what it claims are US-sponsored provocations.
The boarding of the M/T Wen Yao by US Marines was undertaken “to ensure full compliance with the ongoing US naval blockade,” according to US Central Command (Centcom). Centcom also reported that three other commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade, which commenced at 8pm GMT on Tuesday, were redirected. The day prior, a US aircraft disabled an unladen oil tanker that attempted to run the blockade, underscoring the severity of the enforcement.
Concurrently, the US has broadened its aerial assault on Iran, with reports of strikes hitting five bridges in southern Iran. Iranian state media indicated that US strikes on Thursday impacted targets around Tehran and Semnan province, a key hub for Iran’s ballistic missile production and space programme. Further strikes were reported in provinces including Hamedan, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Markazi, and Sistan and Balochistan, as well as on Iran’s Qeshm island, strategically located near the Strait of Hormuz.
The escalation has triggered immediate retaliation from Tehran, with Gulf countries hosting US forces facing renewed attacks. Kuwait reported responding to missile and drone attacks early on Friday, following earlier aerial assaults from Iran. Similarly, Doha experienced several blasts, prompting Qatari officials to elevate the security threat level. In Bahrain, citizens were urged to take shelter, with Iranian state media claiming the Islamic Republic’s army was targeting US helicopters and planes at a Bahraini airbase in response to US actions.
The deepening crisis carries significant implications for global energy markets. Reuters reported that Iran has instructed its Houthi allies in Yemen to prepare to close the oil route through the Red Sea if the US targets Iranian energy infrastructure. Such a move could paralyse international oil shipments. Maritime data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence noted that week-to-week cargo shipments through the Strait of Hormuz had already dropped by nearly a quarter at the beginning of the month, even before the latest surge in hostilities. Some oil shippers are reportedly transiting the strait with location devices off, while many others are simply avoiding the route, with pipeline capacity insufficient to offset the decline.