The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified on Sunday, with reports of missile strikes, retaliatory attacks, and growing regional fallout across the Gulf and beyond.
Iranian officials said the Khondab region in central Iran was hit by US projectiles, while explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Jask, Qeshm Island, and Khuzestan province. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed a third round of strikes this week, targeting around 140 Iranian military sites, including missile and drone facilities, naval assets, and surveillance positions. CENTCOM said more than 300 targets have been hit over three nights of operations.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for attacks on two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing them of violating navigation rules. The IRGC also said it struck US‑linked military facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, though these claims remain unverified.
Jordan’s military reported three Iranian missiles landed in its territory, causing minor damage but no casualties. Qatar confirmed three injuries, including a child, from falling shrapnel. Columns of smoke were seen above the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, where air raid sirens were sounded.
Diplomatic efforts are underway to ease tensions. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged restraint in talks with his Iranian counterpart, while Saudi Arabia expressed concern over the escalating situation. Iran and Oman also held discussions on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, with Qatar joining part of the talks.
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that “the era of one‑sided deals is over,” signalling Tehran’s defiance.
In a separate development, Qatar mourned the death of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at age 74. His tenure transformed Qatar into a global power, with independent foreign policies that often intersected with Iran.
The unfolding crisis has raised fears of wider instability across West Asia, with both military and diplomatic fronts intensifying.
