Breaking away from the US President Donald Trump-imposed moratorium on targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, Israel launched an attack on Bushehr nuclear plant, while Iran claimed it struck US vessels and military bases in the region.In a fresh twist to the month-old conflict, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels based in Yemen entered the war by launching a missile at Israel, which Tel Aviv said it intercepted.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X, chiding neighbouring countries in the Persian Gulf, saying, “To the countries of the region: If you want development and security, don’t let our enemies run the war from your lands.” He added that Iran “does not carry out pre-emptive attacks but will retaliate strongly if our infrastructure or economic centres are targeted”.International watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant was struck for the third time in 10 days. The IAEA said it was informed by Iran of a new strike in the area of the plant. “No damage to the operating reactor nor any radiation release reported, and the condition of the plant is normal, Iran says,” Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.Grossi expressed “deep concern” over reports of military activity near the nuclear facility, warning it could trigger a major radiological incident.Iran has threatened retaliation for the latest Israeli strike. “Iran will exact a heavy price for Israeli crimes,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X. Russia, which has nuclear specialists at Bushehr, also reacted, with Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev saying the situation at the plant was deteriorating and attacks posed a direct threat to nuclear safety. The Russian Foreign Ministry called for “unequivocal and firm condemnation” of the strike.Iran kept firing missiles at Israel and Gulf region on Friday, including a strike at a military base in Saudi Arabia that US officials said wounded at least 15 US service members, two of them seriously.The attack on Prince Sultan Air Base also damaged several US refuelling aircraft, said two US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters. One of the officials said two of the troops were seriously wounded.Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its naval units conducted a hybrid operation against the US and Israeli deployments at Al-Shyoukh port as well as Dubai’s coast and port. Elsewhere, drones struck Kuwait airport, damaging radar systems, and the key port of Salalah in Oman. Kuwait did not confirm the source of the drones, while Iran acknowledged an attack near the Omani port, claiming to have targeted a US “military support vessel”.Meanwhile, five Indians were injured in the UAE after debris fell near the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi following the interception of a ballistic missile.The entry of the Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, poses a direct threat to the Bab al-Mandab strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, a second major choke point in global energy supply chains in West Asia after the Strait of Hormuz. Since the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, Saudi Arabia has diverted some oil exports via pipelines to the Red Sea.Amid the escalation, diplomatic efforts are also underway. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said he expected Iran to hold talks with Washington “this week”. Pakistan is preparing to host talks involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt aimed at ending the conflict, with foreign ministers set to meet in Islamabad. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had held “extensive discussions” with President Pezeshkian.At the same time, US troops are being deployed to the region, with Trump signalling a knockout blow if negotiations fail. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that the US hoped to achieve its objectives without boots on the ground, but with marines in position, Trump could order a military action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or weaken Iran’s ability to block it.Meanwhile, Indian-flagged vessel ‘Jag Vasant’ carrying 47,000 MT of LPG arrived at Vadinar port in Gujarat’s Jamnagar after crossing the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia crisis, an official said on Saturday. The carrier was anchored at 8.30 pm on Friday, loaded from Mina Al Ahmadi Port, Kuwait.