US attacks Iran for 13th night as Trump threatens ‘bigger’ strikes

What Happened

United States President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he is considering 'larger strikes than ever before' on Iran, following 12 consecutive nights of US attacks on Iranian bridges and tunnels, according to Iranian media. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missile and drone attacks on Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait on Thursday, claiming they targeted US military assets. The IRGC acknowledged striking a telecommunications tower in Kuwait, stating it was retaliation for US attacks on Iranian telecom infrastructure. Kuwait also reported a hostile drone strike on its Abdali border crossing with Iraq. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of 'eye for an eye' retaliation, while Iranian army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia declared that armed forces’ reprisals would continue as long as US attacks on Iran’s infrastructure and coastal areas persist. Simultaneously, Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired on two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea and declared a blockade of Saudi Arabian ports, threatening Aramco facilities if Riyadh does not lift its own blockade on Houthi-controlled ports. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut since late February when the US and Israel began strikes on Iran. Global oil benchmark Brent crude surged past $100 per barrel for the first time since May, exacerbating energy market fears. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council that the situation is 'teetering on the edge of the unimaginable,' with crises feeding one another.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The direct US-Iran military exchange now extends across multiple Gulf states, raising the risk of a region-wide war and devastating energy disruption. With the Strait of Hormuz already shut and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait under threat, oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel, challenging global economic stability. The collapse of the interim US-Iran peace deal and the involvement of allied non-state actors like the Houthis signal a dangerously expanding conflict cycle that the UN warns is spiraling beyond control.

Watch For

Trump's announcement on whether to authorize massive strikes; Iranian retaliation to any new US attacks, particularly against US allies or critical infrastructure; Houthi implementation of port blockades and potential strikes on Aramco; Saudi Arabia's military and diplomatic response; emergency UN Security Council sessions and any diplomatic interventions; and continued oil price volatility as global spare capacity dwindles.