The US intensified its military campaign against Iran with fresh strikes on coastal defense and missile facilities, prompting new Iranian threats against strategic shipping lanes. The latest escalation has increased concerns over regional conflicts and global oil supplies.

The US military said it struck Iranian coastal defense systems and cruise missile sites Wednesday morning after conducting a larger overnight operation targeting dozens of military positions, Reuters reported.

Officials said the strikes were designed to reduce Iran’s capacity to attack merchant shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran responded by pledging to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and warning that additional export corridors benefiting the US and its allies could also be disrupted. The Revolutionary Guard claimed attacks on US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, while analysts warned that Houthi rebels could also threaten shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, another vital route for global oil trade.

Trump said the US may next target Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran declines to restart negotiations. Since the conflict began in February, the fighting has expanded across the region, leaving thousands dead, millions displaced, and diplomatic efforts toward a lasting ceasefire at a standstill.