Iran War Escalates As Tehran Threatens Gulf Energy Sites While US Carrier Withdraws After Fire

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Tehran warned Wednesday it could target numerous energy sites across the Gulf region as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran escalated, while America’s most advanced aircraft carrier moved toward port after a fire aboard the vessel in the Red Sea.

Iran’s warning came after Israeli strikes on the country’s South Pars gas field, marking the first known attack on Iran’s upstream oil and gas infrastructure since the conflict began.

Tehran also expressed outrage over the killing of senior officials, including intelligence minister Esmaeil Khatib, in overnight Israeli strikes.

Crowds gathered in the Iranian capital for a joint funeral for senior official Ali Larijani, General Gholam Reza Soleimani, and sailors from the IRIS Dena, an Iranian Navy frigate that was previously involved in regional naval operations and reportedly damaged during earlier hostilities.

ENERGY MARKETS SHAKE

Furious about these attacks, Iran published a list of Gulf energy sites it warned could be targeted, prompting Saudi Aramco to reportedly begin evacuating staff from its Samref and Jubail facilities as a precaution.

The developments fueled fresh volatility in global markets, with Brent crude rising more than 5 percent to above $109 a barrel.

In Washington, President Donald J. Trump temporarily waived a century-old shipping mandate to ease energy price pressures.

Vice President JD Vance was expected to meet oil executives Thursday to discuss further steps to stabilize markets.

U.S. CARRIER INCIDENT RAISES CONCERNS

Despite its importance amid rising turmoil, the world’s largest and most advanced U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is heading to port in Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete after a fire broke out in its main laundry area while operating in the Red Sea.

U.S. officials said the blaze took hours to bring under control, damaged about 100 sleeping berths, and left nearly 200 sailors treated for smoke inhalation, with at least one service member evacuated.

Despite the incident, officials stressed that the carrier’s propulsion systems remain intact and the vessel is still operational.

The deployment — now in its ninth month and including earlier missions in other regions — has raised questions about crew fatigue, morale, and readiness.

REGIONAL OFFENSIVE INTENSIFIES

The carrier has played a central role in U.S. operations against Iran, with American forces carrying out more than 7,000 strikes since the campaign began on February 28.

Elsewhere, Israel has intensified its offensive in Lebanon, striking two bridges it says are used by Hezbollah to transport munitions.

Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 900 people, underscoring fears that the conflict could widen further across the region.

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