Iran said the latest strikes targeted U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan, describing the attacks as retaliation for renewed American airstrikes on its southern coastline.

The exchange marks a sharp escalation in the confrontation between Tehran and Washington, with both sides carrying out large-scale military operations within days.

The U.S. military said it struck at least 140 targets inside Iran a day earlier. In response, Tehran launched attacks targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Jordan, expanding the conflict beyond Iranian territory.

The fighting comes as tensions deepen around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil shipping routes. Explosions were reported in the Iranian port cities of Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Jask, as well as on Qeshm Island, raising fresh concerns over security in the Gulf.

Conflicting claims have also emerged over access to the strategic waterway.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz is "open", signaling that maritime traffic can continue despite the fighting.

However, Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority disputed that claim, insisting “no travel is allowed until 'stability and calm are restored”, indicating that movement through the waterway remains restricted from Tehran's perspective.

The latest military exchanges have heightened fears of a wider regional conflict, with multiple Gulf states now caught in the crossfire as both Washington and Tehran intensify their military responses.