- Iranian media reports that desalination pumps have been attacked.
- Kuwait says Iranian hits power, desalination plant.
- UN concerned about attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Iran launched renewed attacks on America’s Gulf allies on Saturday after a seventh straight night of US strikes targeting Iranian military sites, including logistics infrastructure, escalating the war a week after a fragile ceasefire agreement fell apart.
Both sides also targeted shipping traffic, with the United States saying it was enforcing a naval blockade while Iran said it was targeting vessels violating its rules on navigating the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for a fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Oil prices rose more than 4% on Friday to their highest level in more than a month, piling political pressure on US President Donald Trump as his Republican party tries to hold on to power in November’s congressional elections.
Washington and Tehran have been testing the limits of escalation since their ceasefire deal collapsed last week, raising the prospect of a return to all-out war.
The US military’s Central Command said it completed its latest round of strikes by hitting surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities.
“U.S. forces used fighter jets, aerial drones and warships in addition to other assets,” Central Command said in a statement. “More than 50,000 U.S. service members are operating throughout the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal and ready.”
Iranian media reported on Saturday that several missiles hit power plants and desalination pumps in the southern Iranian city of Jask, citing a local official. The official said drinking water had been cut off in villages in Jask due to the attack.
The United States said its forces diverted four commercial vessels, disabled one and boarded another to enforce its naval blockade of Iran.
In return, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said four vessels violating its rules on ship traffic were prevented from passing through the strait with a combined missile and drone operation.
In addition, Iranian media, citing Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, reported that two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after passing a mine route south of the strait. The US military labeled this report false.
Gunmen seized another vessel off Yemen, raising concerns about security in the Middle East’s second major choke point for oil shipments at the mouth of the Red Sea.
Iran’s state television quoted the Revolutionary Guard as saying that until US “aggression” ends, it will not be possible to export chemical fertilizers or even a “single drop of oil and gas” from the region.
Mohsen Rezaei, adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, warned on Friday against US escalation or any attempt to seize Iranian territory.
Concern over infrastructure
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was concerned about the escalation, particularly “attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and across the region,” his spokesman said.
The U.S. military’s Central Command said its targets included “military logistics infrastructure,” the first time it mentioned infrastructure in more than a week.
Iranian media reported early Saturday about the enemy attack in Hormozgan province on the Iranian side of the Strait of Hormuz. State TV said three people were killed and eight injured, while two bridges and a road tunnel were damaged.
Iranian media reported explosions heard or attacks carried out in Sirik, Ahvaz, Yazd, Jask and Khorramabad late Friday or early Saturday.
Trump has threatened to launch broad-based airstrikes on Iran’s infrastructure and has also refused to rule out a ground attack on Iran’s coast or islands. U.S. officials have said strikes on southern Iran are designed in part to give Trump options.
