US strikes Iran as Gulf war escalates, threatening European energy supplies
The collapse of an interim peace deal has triggered a sixth night of US airstrikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on Gulf states, reigniting fears of prolonged disruptions to the oil and fertiliser supplies Europe depends on.
The United States conducted a sixth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran early on Friday, hitting bridges, an airport, and a train station near the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran fired on American military infrastructure in Bahrain and Kuwait, while Qatar intercepted incoming missiles over its territory. The escalation has officially shattered an interim deal aimed at ending the conflict, returning the region to all-out war.
For European markets, the immediate concern is the Strait of Hormuz. The critical shipping chokepoint has been effectively closed since the US and Israel launched their campaign against Iran on 28 February. The prolonged closure has already sent global prices for oil, fertiliser, and other essential goods soaring far beyond the region, a cost burden that falls directly on European consumers and the agricultural sector.
Iranian state media reported that at least seven people were killed in the latest strikes, which targeted a bridge in the coastal city of Bandar Khamir, Iranshahr airport, and a railway station in Bandar Abbas. The US Central Command, however, stated its forces used fighter jets, drones, and warships to strike "dozens of Iranian military targets such as coastal surveillance and air defence sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities." US President Donald Trump, in a primetime address on Thursday, claimed the US was "winning big in Iran" and promised the public would "see the fruits of that labour very, very shortly."
The widening of the conflict into Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar threatens the broader Gulf security architecture that underpins European energy investments and supply lines. Qatar's defence ministry reported intercepting missiles early Friday, with authorities noting a child was wounded by falling debris. Iranian state TV justified the strikes on neighbouring states, stating they were "in response to the crimes of the arrogant enemy and in revenge for the blood of the martyrs of the homeland."
Washington has stated its intensified campaign is designed to limit Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping. Yet the collapse of negotiations suggests the military pressure has failed to force a swift resolution. For European economies already navigating inflationary pressures, the return to full-scale conflict signals that elevated commodity prices and supply chain bottlenecks are set to persist.
