US and Iran trade strikes over Strait of Hormuz. Kuwait suffers infrastructure damage
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has escalated as the United States and Iran continue to exchange direct military strikes. Overnight operations marked the seventh consecutive night of U.S. airstrikes in the region. These attacks focused on key military logistics, surveillance sites, and weapons storage facilities that are critical to Iranian operations near the waterway.
Iran has responded by officially suspending its commitments to an earlier interim deal with the United States. This move removes a key guardrail that had previously limited hostilities. Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the suspension on state television, noting that Tehran no longer views the prior agreement as binding following recent U.S. actions.
The conflict is now impacting civilian infrastructure beyond military targets. Kuwait reported that Iranian missiles struck a desalination plant and an oil facility on Saturday. These strikes resulted in injuries to workers and temporary fires, forcing the desalination plant to power down. This incident marks the second strike on critical water infrastructure in the region in two days, raising concerns about the security of basic resources for local populations.
Damage is also evident within Iran. U.S. strikes destroyed a major desalination plant in the Hormozgan province and damaged critical highway links, including bridges and tunnels near Bandar Abbas. This port city serves as a primary hub near the narrowest transit points of the strait, and the loss of transport infrastructure is complicating Iranian supply lines.
As the conflict enters this new phase, the global energy market remains on edge. The Strait of Hormuz has historically served as one of the most significant maritime transit routes for global crude oil. With recent naval blockades and active exchange of fire, commercial shipping traffic has declined to a three-week low. Diplomatic channels remain quiet, and both sides have signaled a continued escalation of operations in the coming days.