The United States and Iran have intensified their conflict, with the US reportedly striking new targets in Iran's Khuzestan province and Iran retaliating against US allies and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. These latest exchanges on Tuesday have effectively killed a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, which aimed to de-escalate the ongoing US-Iran conflict and restore stability to the strategically vital waterway.

The renewed hostilities come as the interim peace deal, brokered to end the conflict, appears to have completely unraveled. The attacks have reintroduced significant insecurity to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil transport. The US has previously pledged to act as the "guardian" of this waterway and has recently restarted a blockade of Iranian ports.

According to Iran's state news agency, US strikes on Tuesday hit the city of Abadan, home to the Middle East's oldest oil refinery, and the port city of Mahshahr. A US projectile also struck Qeshm Island. Reuters, citing an unnamed US official, confirmed that the US conducted additional strikes on Iranian military targets, stating the objective was to neutralize "emerging threats." These actions followed US military strikes on Monday night targeting Iranian port cities like Bushehr and Bandar Abbas, intended to "degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping."

The implications of these escalating attacks are far-reaching. The conflict threatens a global energy crisis, given the Strait of Hormuz's importance in oil transit. Experts warn of a potential return to a full-scale war if de-escalation efforts fail. "This is a low-intensity war that is becoming persistent," noted Al Jazeera's Resul Serdar, reporting from Tehran, highlighting concerns about further escalation.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for hitting two supertankers in Omani waters on Tuesday, stating they were disabled after disregarding warnings. The IRGC accused the US of "inciting vessels to use an illegal route" and warned that cooperation with the "aggressor enemy" would prolong the Strait of Hormuz's closure and trigger a global energy crisis. The UAE reported that an Iranian attack killed a crew member on one of the disabled tankers.

In addition to targeting shipping, Iran also launched retaliatory attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan on Tuesday. Al Jazeera's Victoria Gatenby, reporting from Doha, Qatar, described it as "another difficult 24 hours for countries in the Gulf and in Jordan as these Iranian attacks continue across this region."

Meditator Qatar issued a condemnation of the attacks on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Oman, meanwhile, urged all parties to adhere to international law governing navigation in the waterway. The International Maritime Agency has expressed its concern over the situation, emphasizing the need for safety and security in international shipping lanes.

The resumption of strikes and the apparent collapse of the peace deal signal a dangerous new phase in the conflict. The targeting of key infrastructure and vital shipping routes raises concerns about regional stability and the potential for wider international involvement. Unresolved questions remain about the ultimate objectives of both the US and Iran and the potential for future diplomatic breakthroughs.