NEW DELHI: Tensions between the United States and Iran intensified after US forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile attacks against US military bases in Jordan.

The US Central Command said the launchers were targeted because they posed an imminent threat to shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps subsequently said it had launched attacks against US military targets in Jordan in retaliation.

The renewed military escalation immediately rattled global energy markets. Brent crude rose above $90 a barrel, gaining more than 2%, while US West Texas Intermediate crude also climbed sharply. Investors are increasingly concerned that further escalation could disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.

US President Donald Trump also claimed that Iran's Kharg Island energy hub had been destroyed. However, the claim has not been independently verified, and reports noted that a video circulated alongside the claim was AI-generated.

The latest confrontation has also weighed on global financial markets, with Asian shares and US stock futures declining as investors assess the potential impact of higher energy prices on inflation and interest rates.

The escalation comes amid already strained efforts to restore stability around the Strait of Hormuz, with concerns growing that prolonged disruption could further affect global oil supplies and shipping.