From Atiq Sharif

July 13 (Reuters) - Most Gulf stock markets closed lower on Monday as fighting escalated in the region and Iran confirmed it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices higher and fueling fresh global concerns about inflation.

The US Central Command said its forces launched a new wave of strikes against Iran on Sunday, targeting dozens of sites in several regions with precision munitions. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said on Monday that it attacked US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remained open to commercial shipping, but Iran had earlier said it closed the waterway after targeting a vessel it said was sailing in an unauthorized route.

The widening scope of the conflict casts doubt on the future of the interim US-Iranian agreement signed last month with the aim of opening the Strait and reaching a permanent agreement to end the war after further negotiations over 60 days.

The Saudi index fell 0.2 percent, with Aramco shares declining 1.1 percent.

Meanwhile, Brent crude futures rose $2.47, or 3.25 percent, to $78.48 by 11:45 GMT.

Joseph Daherieh, managing director at Techmill, said that renewed tensions between the United States and Iran over the weekend cast a shadow over investors' appetite for risk and prompted them to exercise caution.

Daheria added that markets will likely remain highly sensitive to geopolitical developments, particularly any change in the level of tension between the United States and Iran. Earnings results will also be a key factor, as strong earnings can boost investor confidence and help offset geopolitical pressures.

Dubai's index fell 1.2 percent, weighed down by a 2.1 percent drop in shares of Emirates NBD, the UAE's largest bank, and a 2.2 percent decline in shares of Emaar Properties.

The Abu Dhabi index lost 0.3 percent, with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank declining by one percent.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that its air defense systems had intercepted a missile threat.

The stock market in Qatar is closed due to mourning for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the father of the country's Emir.

The index in Bahrain fell 0.6 percent to 1999 points, and the index in Oman declined 0.4 percent to 7618 points.

The index in Kuwait rose 0.1 percent to 9091 points.

Outside the Gulf region, Egypt's benchmark index rose 0.7 percent to 52,608 points.