The United States military says it intercepted ballistic missiles fired by Iran across the Middle East.
In a statement on X on Wednesday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched multiple ballistic missiles in an “attempted surprise attack on US forces based in the Middle East”.
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All the missiles were intercepted, and “US forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness”, the statement added.
Five missile interceptions were reported over Jordan, according to the Jordan News Agency.
The IRGC said its air force targeted a US airbase and Central Command centre in Jordan, “with several ballistic missiles”.
“As long as threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran continue and illegal and vicious actions by American forces against our interests continue, the resistance will continue,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by Iran’s IRIB broadcaster.
Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar said the latest escalation seemed like a “pre-emptive attack, not a reactionary measure”, from the Iranians.
US President Donald Trump had called off a two-week US bombing campaign on Iran on July ۲۴, claiming after that “good talks” were under way with Iran.
“After ۱۳ consecutive days of constant bombing, in the tit-for-tat US-Iran bombings, these latest attacks will most definitely have an impact on the mediation efforts”, Al Jazeera’s Serdar said.
Trump has threatened to restart strikes if negotiations stagnate, while Iran has denied seeking to resume talks with Washington.
‘Sending a message’
The Iranian attacks targeting US bases came as Trump was meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been pushing for war on Iran, in the White House.
“This is Iran sending a message to Trump that they need to be involved in all discussions,” Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher said from Washington, DC.
“It was reported in Israel that Netanyahu was very keen to raise the question of Pickaxe Mountain. The Israelis said there has been building work going ahead there; they believe the Iranians are putting together another nuclear facility”, he said.
Jason Campbell, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Al Jazeera that Tehran is “trying to retake the initiative and the momentum with these latest attacks”.
“Iran has expressed scepticism that the US engages in these pauses between attacks to prepare for another phase of violence, so Tehran likely thinks the US is doing just that with this latest pause”, he said.
US oil futures jumped more than ۴ percent to more than $۸۲ a barrel, while Brent crude futures went to more than $۸۸ a barrel after the US military confirmed the Iranian attack.
Oil prices were dropping earlier on Tuesday as Washington’s suspension of strikes on Iran continued, with traders closely monitoring reports of renewed talks.
Hormuz tensions continue
The Strait of Hormuz and its shipping traffic have been major talking points for Trump, who has decried Iran’s blocking of some vessels.
Iran asserts that it is within its rights to control shipping through the strait.
On Wednesday, the IRGC said it “struck and stopped” three oil tankers in Hormuz, according to Tasnim news agency.
It said the tankers “continued to move along an unsafe and illegal route, ignoring our warnings”,
Oman has presented Iran with a proposal to jointly manage traffic in the strait, but Iran has rejected it.
Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told state television that Tehran rejected splitting transit routes equally.
Instead, he said, Tehran proposed managing shipping on its side of the strait, while Muscat would manage part but not all of the opposite lane.
