Cairo/Dubai: The United States said it launched a new wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday after reimposing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, marking the latest escalation in the conflict between the two countries.

In a statement, the US military said US Central Command forces began the operation at 6 a.m. Eastern Time (2 p.m. UAE time).

“The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.

No further details were provided, and Iranian media did not immediately report any attacks.

The latest operation follows a seven-hour US military campaign on Tuesday that targeted dozens of sites near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s coastline.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had struck US military targets in the region.

The escalating conflict comes as both sides continue to compete for influence over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments passed before the outbreak of the war.

The United States has accused Iran of attacking seven commercial vessels during the past week, resulting in deaths, injuries and missing crew members.

The conflict, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes against Iran, has expanded across the region, affecting Gulf states that host US military bases and raising concerns over global energy supplies and inflation.

Oil prices extended gains by about 1 percent on Wednesday after settling at a one-month high in the previous session.

Efforts to revive negotiations under an interim ceasefire agreement reached last month have so far failed to produce a return to talks aimed at securing a permanent truce.