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By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD — Iran and the United States exchanged fresh military strikes on Tuesday, intensifying their confrontation across the Gulf as Tehran warned of more powerful attacks and tightened pressure on shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's armed forces said they targeted US radar stations, air defence systems and other military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain following overnight U.S. attacks on Iranian military infrastructure.

In a statement carried by state media, Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned that Washington should expect "more decisive and powerful" waves of missile and drone attacks, saying the latest operation was only the beginning of its response.

The Guards also claimed they struck infrastructure belonging to US technology company Amazon in Bahrain.

The escalation came hours after the US military announced it had completed a new series of strikes against Iranian targets, saying the operation was aimed at weakening Tehran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the US military, the attacks hit Iranian military command centres, missile and drone launch sites, maritime capabilities and air defence systems.

Washington said commercial shipping continued to transit the waterway despite the conflict and warned that American forces remained prepared to respond to further attacks on civilian vessels or U.S. personnel.

The latest US operation followed the deaths of at least three American service members in recent days. U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran would pay "many times over" for every American soldier killed, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the confrontation as "a full-scale war."

The Pentagon said nearly 100 U.S. service members have been wounded since July 7, most suffering minor concussions.

- Tensions rise in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said they intercepted and halted two oil tankers it described as "non-compliant" while they attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming explosions aboard the vessels left them disabled and on fire.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that two separate tankers off the coast of Oman were struck by unidentified projectiles in incidents reported over the past day.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world's seaborne oil exports passes, has become the focal point of the renewed conflict, raising concerns over global energy supplies and shipping security.

- Diplomacy continues despite fighting

Despite the military escalation, Tehran said diplomatic contacts with Washington through third-party mediators remain active.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad for a two-day visit and is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to Pakistan's interior ministry.

- Houthis open new front

The regional conflict widened after Yemen's Houthi movement announced an immediate maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, saying the measure was retaliation for recent hostilities.

The group said it would seek to block maritime traffic linked to Saudi Arabia through the Red Sea, threatening another critical global shipping route after renewed instability in the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia condemned the announcement, reaffirming its support for Yemen's internationally recognized government and warning against actions that could further destabilize regional and international trade.

The Houthis have previously targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait with missile and drone attacks, forcing many vessels to reroute around southern Africa instead of using the Suez Canal. The renewed threat raises concerns over additional disruptions to global supply chains and energy markets.