The United States said it completed a new wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday, targeting coastal defence systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites after reimposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

The latest attacks marked another escalation in the struggle over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that handled roughly 20% of global oil and gas shipments before the war began.

U.S. Central Command said the operation began at 6 a.m. Eastern Time and was intended to weaken Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels passing through the strait.

CENTCOM later said the strikes targeted coastal defence systems and cruise missile facilities on Greater Tunb Island. The operation was completed within 90 minutes.

The U.S. military had also conducted seven hours of strikes on Tuesday against dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s coastline.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it responded by attacking U.S. military positions across the region, including sites in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.

The Guards also threatened to disrupt other regional energy export routes, warning that Washington should prepare for the closure of waterways used by the United States and its allies.

Hostilities have intensified since Iran announced on Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz. Washington said Tehran attacked seven commercial vessels during the previous week, leaving around 12 crew members dead, missing or injured.

The war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran. Tehran responded by striking Gulf countries that host American military bases, disrupting global energy supplies and increasing fears of higher inflation.

Oil prices extended their gains on Wednesday, rising by around 1% after reaching a one-month closing high the previous day.

A temporary ceasefire agreement signed last month was expected to lead to further negotiations and a permanent end to the fighting. However, attempts to resume talks have stalled.

Analysts have played down the likelihood of an immediate return to full-scale war but warned that the renewed exchanges still carry a significant risk of escalation.

Iran has also signalled that its Houthi allies in Yemen could move to obstruct the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, potentially opening another front and threatening a second major route for global energy and commercial shipping.

The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is used for Saudi oil exports and a significant share of international maritime trade.

The Revolutionary Guards said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until what they described as “America’s evils” came to an end.

Shipping data also showed an increase in Iran-linked vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb before the latest U.S. blockade of Iranian ports took effect.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to strike Iranian power stations and bridges if Tehran failed to resume negotiations.

“I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we will hit them,” Trump told Fox News, adding that U.S. negotiators remained in contact with Iranian officials and were urging them to reach an agreement.

Trump had suggested imposing a 20% fee on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz but later withdrew the proposal. He said he would instead seek investment agreements with Gulf countries, without providing further details.

The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions, particularly in Iran and Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has resumed.

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said at least 30 civilians had been killed in recent U.S. strikes in southern Iran. The Iranian military separately said at least seven soldiers were killed overnight in strikes on the Bampur military base in the country’s southeast.