U.S.-Iran tensions escalate with renewed strikes

TEHRAN, July 18 (Xinhua) — Iran launched renewed attacks on U.S. Gulf allies on Saturday after the U.S. CENTCOM concluded a new round of strikes on Iran overnight.

Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency said that explosions were reported in Bushehr province as well as Hormozgan province’s Sirik and Qeshm counties, and the official IRNA news agency said five blasts were heard in Iran’s central Yazd province.

Late on Friday, the U.S. CENTCOM said in a post on social media platform X that U.S. forces ended the seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran, hitting surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities.

“More than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready,” said the statement.