The U.S. military said Friday that it fired on another merchant vessel accused of attempting to violate its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran launched attacks targeting U.S. positions around the Persian Gulf.
The conflict showed no signs of easing after 13 consecutive nights of strikes. Both countries appeared prepared for further escalation, with U.S. embassies in the Middle East warning Americans that evacuation options could become more limited, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard urged residents of neighboring countries to avoid areas near U.S. military bases.
The Saudi-led coalition also reported carrying out strikes on Yemen’s port city of Hodeida in response to attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The Houthis vowed to intensify their operations after weeks of rising tensions.
U.S. Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said American forces disabled the merchant ship M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly tried four times to breach the blockade despite repeated warnings. According to Hawkins, U.S. forces fired into the vessel’s engine room after the crew ignored commands. The incident marked the second commercial vessel disabled since the blockade was reimposed.
Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump met with senior national security officials to review the situation and discuss whether to maintain or escalate military operations, according to an anonymous U.S. official. No decisions from the meeting were immediately announced. Speaking later from the Oval Office, Trump described negotiations with Iran as the most serious so far but said he was “not in a hurry” to end the conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected what he described as U.S. pressure, stating that Iran would not surrender to threats. He also highlighted ongoing consultations with China and Russia.
The Strait of Hormuz remained central to the conflict. The article claims Iranian attacks have effectively disrupted traffic through the strategic waterway, causing sharp increases in global energy prices and economic uncertainty.
In Iraq, security officials reported that U.S.-led forces intercepted five explosive drones over Irbil, where American military advisers are stationed. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for attacks on the U.S. Udairi base in Kuwait and a watchtower associated with the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, although U.S. Central Command did not confirm those claims.
Bahrain and Jordan also reported intercepting Iranian aerial attacks. At the same time, Iranian media said U.S. strikes targeted a Revolutionary Guard naval base in northern Iran, as well as military-related sites on Qeshm Island, in Isfahan province, Khuzestan province, and Fars province.
U.S. Central Command stated that the strikes were intended to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and help restore safe passage through regional waterways.
Diplomatic efforts continued as an Omani delegation visited Tehran to discuss shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz. The article noted that Iran’s ability to disrupt the strait, along with Houthi attacks on Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea, has strengthened Tehran’s negotiating position.
Saudi officials also reported another attack on one of their vessels in the Red Sea, causing minor damage. Houthi media said Saudi airstrikes later targeted telecommunications facilities and Kamaran Island in Yemen, injuring civilians. Saudi Arabia warned it would continue responding to attacks, while Trump threatened severe military action if Houthi assaults on shipping persisted.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another key global shipping route, has also become increasingly vulnerable. Roughly 12% of global trade and about one-quarter of the world’s container traffic normally passes through the waterway.
Energy markets remained volatile, with Brent crude trading around $96 per barrel—well above prewar levels—and the U.S. national average gasoline price reaching $4.11 per gallon, according to AAA.
The article also highlighted the growing humanitarian impact of the conflict. Iran’s Health Ministry reported 3,434 deaths since the war began. The International Maritime Organization said around 6,000 mariners were stranded aboard approximately 400 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.N. human rights office warned that some crews had been abandoned without adequate food, water, fuel, medical care, electricity, or communication.
Despite ongoing diplomatic contacts, including a meeting between Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, there were no public signs of a breakthrough. Araghchi suggested that additional mediation was unnecessary and argued that the United States must change its position first.
The article concludes by stating that the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 with evolving objectives, including dismantling Iran’s nuclear program and potentially removing its government. It also says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit the United States next week for talks with President Trump.