After about a month of relative peace, the U.S. and Iran have exchanged their heaviest fire since July this week.
On Tuesday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it struck Iranian military infrastructure.
Iran fired missiles and drones back at U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq.
Here’s what’s driving it.
Background
The war began on 28 February, when the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, killing the Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the strikes were aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear program, stopping it from striking its neighbours, and creating conditions for Iranians to topple their government.
Iran struck back against Israel, U.S. bases in the region, and other countries on the Persian Gulf.
A peace deal was signed on 17 June, but hostilities resumed in mid-July.
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that carried roughly 20% of the world’s oil a day before the war, plus a similar share of its gas.
In May, Iran created its own authority to run the Strait, saying no ship could pass without an Iranian-issued permit.
The U.S. rejects that.
It has declared itself the “guardian” of the Strait, escorts ships through, and blockades Iranian ports.
New strikes
CENTCOM says Tuesday’s strikes followed attempted attacks by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a paramilitary organisation under the regime, on commercial shipping in the Strait and U.S. troops.
Trump gave a different reason in a post to his social media platform Truth Social, saying they were retaliation for Iran’s “failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait”.
Days earlier, the U.S. struck rocket launchers on Larak Island, saying the Iranian troops were there preparing to fire rockets carrying mines.
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
Iran says it is defending its own waters, and that the U.S. strikes on Tuesday killed 18 people and injured 108.
State media reports a strike hit a wedding at a home in the city of Sirik, killing four people, including a four-year-old, with dozens wounded.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the wedding strike.
CENTCOM told the BBC it was aware of the reports which it said “originated from Iranian state media,” and said the U.S. never targets civilians.
Regional impact
Iran says its goal now is to push U.S. forces out of long-held bases across the Middle East.
Its military command warned that any country cooperating with the U.S. “must accept its dangerous consequences”.
Kuwait said an Iranian drone struck a residential complex, causing damage but no injuries.
Iran also said it killed U.S. personnel in Jordan and Iraq.
U.S. officials said there were no reports of casualties.
Oil prices
Oil is trading around $US95 ($AU133) a barrel, its highest since late July.
In Australia, the average cost of petrol is around 205c, with the temporary cut to the fuel excise fully ending on 3 August.
Australia imports about 80% of its refined fuel from refineries in Asia that run on Middle East oil.
What’s next?
Speaking to reporters at the White House overnight, Trump said the U.S. has “almost total control of the Hormuz Strait” and that Iran’s economy is collapsing.
He said the U.S. is no longer seeking a long-standing agreement with Iran.
Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, says Iran will return to the terms of the June deal if the U.S. does.
