For the seventh night in a row, United States forces have carried out strikes against Iranian military targets, escalating a conflict that now threatens to engulf the broader Gulf region. In a statement posted to X, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its fighter jets, drones, and warships had hit "surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities."
The operation is part of a sustained campaign that began after the collapse of a provisional ceasefire agreement in June. That deal, which had given Washington and Tehran 60 days to finalise a broader accord, had briefly raised hopes of de-escalation. Under its terms, the US was to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, and Iran was to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reaffirm it would not pursue nuclear weapons. Instead, fighting resumed, and the blockade has been tightened.
Iran's Fars state news agency reported that Iranian forces had retaliated by striking US allies and bases in the region, including the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait and a number of communication sites in Bahrain. Kuwait's army confirmed early Saturday that its air defences were facing "hostile missile and drone attacks." Jordan's military also said it had intercepted ten Iranian missiles overnight.
The Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world's oil and gas shipments, remains at reduced traffic levels. Iran effectively closed the waterway after the conflict erupted in February, causing turbulence in energy markets that has been felt acutely in European capitals. The European Union, which imports a significant share of its crude from the Gulf, has seen prices at the pump rise and has struggled to secure alternative supply routes.
The conflict has also drawn in European allies indirectly. The UK, which maintains a naval presence in the Gulf as part of the Combined Maritime Forces, has not yet announced a change in posture. But diplomats in London and Paris have expressed concern that the fighting could spill over into a broader regional war, with potential consequences for European security. The threats by Iran to destroy regional infrastructure have only heightened those fears.
European Energy Security at Risk
For European consumers, the most immediate impact has been on energy prices. The Strait of Hormuz closure has already pushed oil above $100 per barrel, and analysts warn that a prolonged blockade could trigger a recession in parts of the continent. Germany, which relies on Gulf crude for about 10% of its imports, has begun tapping strategic reserves. France and Italy have also activated emergency plans.
Meanwhile, the US naval blockade against Iranian ports has further constrained Tehran's ability to export oil, deepening the economic pressure on the regime. CENTCOM said it "continues to hold Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief's direction while fully enforcing a naval blockade against Iranian ports."
The conflict has also complicated European diplomatic efforts. The EU has long sought to mediate between Washington and Tehran, but the renewed hostilities have sidelined those initiatives. The bloc's foreign policy chief has called for an immediate ceasefire, but neither side has shown willingness to return to the negotiating table.
In a separate development, a deadly missile strike on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month had already raised the stakes. That attack, which killed several crew members, including two Europeans, prompted the US to intensify its bombing campaign.
As the fighting enters its eighth night, the risk of miscalculation grows. Iran has threatened to target critical infrastructure in the Gulf, including desalination plants and power grids, while the US has warned it will strike Iranian civilian sites if provoked further. For Europe, the nightmare scenario is a conflict that not only disrupts energy supplies but also triggers a refugee crisis and destabilises already fragile states in the Middle East.
