Iran has leveled accusations against the United States, claiming that recent air strikes have struck civilian facilities following the breakdown of peace negotiations.
State-run media and local officials reported that key infrastructure, including bridges, a railway station, and an airport, were among the targets hit.
While U.S. Central Command (Centcom) has not disclosed specific targets, it stated that the operations aimed to “further degrade Iranian military capabilities.”
President Donald Trump has warned of potential strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including bridges and power stations, in an effort to compel Tehran back to the negotiating table.
The conflict, which ignited on February 28 due to U.S. and Israeli military actions, has prompted Iran to retaliate against American and Israeli interests in the region.
For six consecutive nights, U.S. forces have conducted air strikes against Iranian positions.
Reports from Iranian state media indicate that Iranshahr Airport in southeastern Iran, along with a railway station and six bridges in Hormozgan province, were targeted during Thursday night’s operations.
Provincial authorities reported seven fatalities as a result of these strikes.
Images captured during daylight hours reveal extensive damage, including a collapsed roadway and debris surrounding a destroyed bridge.
Following President Trump’s remarks in April regarding the bombing of civilian infrastructure in Iran, UN human rights chief Volker Türk condemned such actions, stating that “deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime.”
In retaliation to the latest U.S. assaults, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for striking U.S. maritime radar installations in Oman and targeting sites in Kuwait and Bahrain.
They also asserted an attack on a U.S. special operations command center located at al-Tanf in Syria.
Kuwaiti officials confirmed that Iranian strikes impacted power generation and water desalination facilities.
As hostilities escalate, the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage, remains effectively blocked by Tehran amid ongoing conflict.
This strait serves as a conduit for approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.
Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, expressed concern about global energy supplies, stating, “We should be worried, and I am worried, if the situation does not improve in the next few weeks.”
The U.S. and Iran had previously agreed to cease hostilities in June to facilitate negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict.
Despite largely observing the ceasefire, Iranian attacks on oil tankers aimed at enforcing Tehran’s demands led to U.S. retaliatory strikes.
However, with talks showing no progress, President Trump announced the end of the ceasefire last week.
In addition to targeting Iranian sites, the U.S. has reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
On Friday, UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile while navigating near Khasab in Oman on Thursday; fortunately, all crew members were reported safe.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong