The United States has carried out a third wave of strikes against Iran following Tehran’s attack on a container vessel flying the Cypriot flag, further escalating tensions in the Gulf region as Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed “until further notice.”
According to U.S. Central Command, President Donald Trump authorized the strikes with the aim of weakening Iran’s capacity to target commercial ships. Iranian state media reported explosions near the southern energy hubs of Bushehr and Assaluyeh, as well as in Bandar Abbas, Bandar Dayer, and the Sirik area close to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that it halted a cargo ship after it attempted to navigate through the strait via a route it deemed unauthorized. The IRGC warned that the waterway would remain shut until “the cessation of U.S. interference in this region” and declared that any retaliatory action would be met with a “harsh response.”
Diplomatic efforts continued behind the scenes, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meeting Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi in Muscat to discuss mechanisms for ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Oman stated that negotiations would persist at both political and technical levels.
The latest military actions have once again cast doubt on the prospects for resuming talks between Washington and Tehran. Iran insists that the United States must fulfill commitments made under a recent memorandum of understanding before broader negotiations can restart, while Washington continues to demand that Tehran guarantee the safe transit of commercial vessels through this strategic waterway.
Earlier this week, attacks on commercial tankers in the Gulf triggered U.S. strikes on Iranian targets and retaliatory Iranian assaults on American military installations in the region, heightening concerns over a wider regional conflict.
Additionally, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed revenge for the killing of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that the country would pursue retribution regardless of future developments. His remarks followed Trump’s warning that U.S. forces are prepared to launch a massive response should Iran attempt an assassination attempt against him.
Approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making any prolonged disruption to shipping along this route a significant risk to global energy markets.
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