Iran Attacks Another Tanker in Hormuz as US Launches 10th Straight Night of Airstrikes

Washington DC/Tehran: Iran attacked a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel, as the United States launched a 10th consecutive night of airstrikes targeting the country over control of the strategic waterway.

US Central Command said the latest strikes targeted Iranian military command centres, missile and drone launch sites, maritime assets and air defence systems. It said the operation was aimed at weakening Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping through the strait, which previously carried about one-fifth of global oil and natural gas trade.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the tanker was attacked off the coast of Oman, prompting the crew to evacuate. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for the attack, as well as two other attacks on commercial vessels on Monday.

Iran also launched attacks targeting US allies across the region. Kuwait said its air defences intercepted incoming projectiles, Jordan said it shot down three Iranian missiles, while Bahrain condemned Iranian drone attacks targeting its air traffic systems.

The Pentagon said nearly 100 US service members have been injured since Washington resumed strikes on July 7, though 96% have already returned to duty. The US has also confirmed 17 military deaths since the conflict began.

Amid the escalating conflict, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni travelled to Pakistan for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as Islamabad intensified efforts to revive stalled negotiations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained open to diplomacy if Iran was prepared for "real" negotiations.

Meanwhile, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, threatening shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another key global trade route.

The continued fighting has disrupted maritime traffic, pushed Brent crude above $88 a barrel and raised fears of a wider regional conflict, while Iranian authorities said at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in the latest US strikes.