Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated sharply, with US forces striking Iranian tankers and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacking a US base in Jordan, according to Al Jazeera. The IRGC has urged crews to abandon tankers in Kuwait and Bahrain, warning it will target ships in response to the US attack. The exchanges mark a significant widening of the conflict, raising concerns about shipping security in the Gulf and the risk of further regional escalation.

Iranian state media reported Monday that a ballistic missile with improved capabilities reflects a new doctrine under which Tehran "will take action against any threat, even before it is carried out," according to the Associated Press. The report cited comments aired on state TV by Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who boasted of the country's new missile capability. The announcement comes amid continued tensions in the region, including around the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has threatened the United States with new measures it describes as economic warfare, including missile action, and vowed to establish a maritime exclusion zone, according to TimesLIVE. The reported threats come as US sanctions on Tehran intensify and as Houthi forces launched an attack on Saudi Arabia. The developments signal heightened tensions across the Gulf region involving Iran, the United States and its regional allies.

The United States struck multiple Iranian tankers on Tuesday after further attempted missile attacks on a Navy warship, according to a U.S. official who spoke anonymously about sensitive military operations. The action was described as the latest tit-for-tat exchange as Washington and Tehran move back toward open fighting after more than six months of war. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy has warned crews, though the provided text cuts off before further details.

In the ongoing conflict, US Senator Marco Rubio has pledged to defend Gulf interests during discussions with Iran. Meanwhile, Israel has confirmed it will not retreat from southern Lebanon, following reports of Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of two individuals in the region.

The United States military says it bombed and destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers after what it described as an attack on its navy, according to Al Jazeera. The US military released video footage purporting to show its forces destroying the tankers. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, though further details about the naval attack and any casualties were not provided in the report.