'Assume total control': Trump warns US will hit Iran ‘very hard’ tonightUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: The US-Iran conflict entered a dangerous new phase as both sides exchanged fresh military strikes, raising fears of a wider regional war and a major disruption to global energy supplies. Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, while the United States responded with a new wave of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, including surveillance systems, communications networks and air defence sites.The escalation marks the most serious deterioration in relations since the fragile April ceasefire, which both Washington and Tehran have repeatedly accused each other of violating. Tensions had already been building following clashes around the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran accused the United States of aggression and Washington blamed Tehran for attacks on American assets in the Gulf.The latest crisis was triggered after US defence secretary Pete Hegseth signalled a fresh military offensive against Iran, arguing that increased military pressure would strengthen Washington's negotiating position. President Donald Trump simultaneously warned Tehran that it would "pay the price" for delaying a deal, while Hegseth declared that the United States was prepared to "negotiate with bombs" if necessary.Hours later, US Central Command confirmed fresh strikes across Iran, prompting explosions and air defence activity in several Iranian cities, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Minab and Karaj. Tehran accused Washington of targeting civilian infrastructure, claiming that water facilities serving thousands of residents had been damaged.Iran quickly retaliated. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched coordinated missile and drone attacks on US military installations across the Gulf, including the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and facilities at Jordan's Azraq base. Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan said their air defence systems intercepted the incoming projectiles and reported no major damage or casualties.The confrontation took an even more alarming turn when Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all commercial shipping and warned that vessels attempting to transit the waterway would be targeted. Reports of clashes between Iranian and US naval forces near the strait further heightened concerns about the security of one of the world's most important energy corridors, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass.Regional governments, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, condemned the attacks and urged de-escalation, while global markets reacted nervously amid fears of prolonged disruptions to oil exports and maritime trade.The crisis is unfolding against a backdrop of broader instability across West Asia. Fighting has continued in Lebanon, diplomatic efforts led by Gulf mediators have stalled, and pressure on Tehran has increased after the UN nuclear watchdog adopted a US-backed resolution demanding greater transparency over Iran's nuclear programme.With both Washington and Tehran signalling readiness for further military action, diplomatic channels narrowing and threats to global energy supplies growing, the risk of a broader regional confrontation now appears higher than at any point since the April ceasefire.