Fresh tensions have erupted in the Middle East after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps warned it would deliver a “decisive reciprocal response” to any further attacks following U.S. military strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
The warning came after U.S. Central Command confirmed that American forces carried out what it described as “self-defense” strikes against Iranian mine-laying boats operating near the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important oil and gas shipping routes, and the growing conflict has raised fears of wider regional instability and disruptions to global energy supplies.
The latest escalation comes after weeks of uncertain cease-fire negotiations between Iran, the United States, and Israel. While President Donald Trump previously suggested that an agreement to reopen the strait was close, his administration has recently delivered mixed signals about the progress of peace talks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations were still ongoing and could conclude within days, though Trump later stated there was “no hurry” to reach a deal.
Iran’s top negotiators returned home from talks in Qatar on Tuesday, signaling at least a temporary pause in diplomatic discussions. Key unresolved issues reportedly include Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and long-standing American sanctions against Tehran.
Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said the recent war demonstrated that American military bases across the Middle East were no longer secure.
At the same time, Israel intensified military operations in southern Lebanon despite an earlier cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces were expanding operations and deploying larger military units into Lebanese territory.
According to Israeli officials, troops have moved beyond the so-called “yellow line,” an area previously designated under the cease-fire arrangement that began in mid-April.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military stated that it had redirected 108 commercial vessels since April as part of its operations connected to the Iranian blockade. Iran has largely restricted movement through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict intensified earlier this year, occasionally threatening or carrying out attacks on shipping activity.
In another major development, Iran has begun restoring internet access after imposing what monitoring organizations described as the longest nationwide internet shutdown in modern history. The blackout began after U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran in late February.
Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref confirmed that restrictions were being eased.
“The first step toward free and regulated access to cyberspace has been taken,” Aref said on social media.
Internet monitoring organization NetBlocks reported signs of partial restoration after 88 days of severe restrictions. During the shutdown, millions of Iranians struggled to communicate, operate businesses, or access global online services.
The ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran are increasingly being compared to Trump’s earlier Gaza cease-fire strategy — securing temporary calm first while delaying deeper disputes for later talks.
Analysts warn that while phased agreements can reduce immediate violence, unresolved issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, missile systems, and regional militia alliances could continue fueling instability across the Middle East.
Despite diplomatic efforts, military activity across the region remains intense, with continued clashes involving Iran, Israel, Hezbollah, and U.S. forces creating fears that the fragile cease-fire process could collapse at any moment.
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