US-Iran Escalates
Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have attacked several US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. These attacks were said to be in retaliation for a wave of US military strikes on Iranian targets, which were carried out following the tanker incident in the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC stated that it conducted a joint missile and drone operation against key US military facilities, including the Bandar Salman area in Bahrain and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Iran also claimed to have shot down a US MQ-9 drone that it said was attempting to disrupt the operation. Air raid sirens were reportedly heard in Bahrain and Kuwait, while the Kuwaiti military stated that its air defenses repelled the missile and drone attacks.
Previously, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had attacked more than 60 IRGC small boats and several Iranian military targets. Washington described the operation as a response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which it considered a violation of the ceasefire. NATO also stated that the US strikes were necessary because Iran was considered to be violating the ceasefire agreement.
Iran responded with strong condemnation. Iran's supreme joint military command called the US attack a blatant act of aggression and warned of a crushing response. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also accused the US of violating the ceasefire through military attacks, new oil sanctions, and interference in the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
The impact was immediately felt in energy markets. Oil prices rose more than 3% after the US revoked permits that previously allowed Iran to sell oil on international markets. This revocation puts significant pressure on the interim US-Iran peace deal, as easing oil exports was a key point in the agreement. If the conflict escalates, global markets risk a surge in oil prices, renewed inflationary pressures, and increased demand for safe-haven assets like gold. (asd)
Source: Newsmaker.id
