Iran targets US embassy in Riyadh, as Tehran says Strait of Hormuz 'closed'

Iran targeted the US Embassy in Riyadh on Monday night as Tehran’s retaliatory attacks expanded across much of the Gulf, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announcing on Tuesday the closure of the key Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry confirmed that the embassy was struck by two Iranian drones, causing a "limited fire" and minor structural damage, with no injuries reported.

The US Embassy in Riyadh said the mission would remain closed to the public on Tuesday and reiterated its shelter-in-place advisory for American citizens across the Kingdom.

US President Donald Trump vowed retaliation, telling News Nation that "you’ll find out soon" what the response will be.

Iran’s attacks extended beyond Saudi Arabia overnight, with Qatar's defence ministry saying that two ballistic missiles were intercepted before reaching its territory.

In Oman, a drone strike targeted a fuel tank at Duqm Port in the Al-Wusta Governorate, causing material damage but no casualties, according to official media.

Two US Defence Department employees were injured in an Iranian drone strike on a hotel in Bahrain’s capital Manama on Monday.

Hostilities have intensified across the Gulf in recent days, with multiple deaths reported in the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain amid repeated missile interceptions and air raid sirens.

On Monday evening, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and Dubai Crown Prince Hamad bin Mohammed appeared publicly at Dubai Mall, in a public show of unity.

Analysts note that Iran has focused considerable fire on the UAE, citing its close ties with both Israel and the United States.

Strait of Hormuz Threats

On Monday, the IRGC claimed it had closed the Strait of Hormuz and warned that any vessel attempting passage would be "set ablaze".

However, US Central Command (CENTCOM) told Fox News that the crucial waterway remained open, but several major global shipping companies still announced suspensions of operations through the strait due to security concerns.

The Wall Street Journal reported that disruptions to oil and LNG shipments could last for more than a month with roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies passing through the strait.

Ebrahim Jabari, a senior advisor to the IRGC’s commander-in-chief, threatened further action against regional energy infrastructure, warning that Iran "will not allow a single drop of oil to leave the region".

US-Israeli strikes on Iran continue

Meanwhile, joint US and Israeli strikes continued overnight, with Iranian state media reporting attacks in multiple parts of Tehran, including the city centre near the former parliament building.

Israel’s military said on Tuesday that it carried out air strikes on Iran’s presidential office and National Security Council building in the Iranian capital.

Strikes also hit the cities of Isfahan and Shiraz, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

By Tuesday morning, the semi-official Tasnim agency reported at least 21 deaths in the city of Lamerd in Fars province. In Hamedan, five people were killed and 25 others wounded when residential buildings were struck.

Iran’s Red Crescent said the death toll in the country from US-Israeli attacks had risen to 787, with hundreds more injured.

CENTCOM stated that its operations had destroyed IRGC command and control centres as well as air defence systems