Iran has announced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz “until further notice” and launched fresh missile and drone attacks on United States military facilities across the Middle East, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between Tehran and Washington.
Gatekeepers News reports that the latest development came after the US carried out a new wave of airstrikes on Iranian military targets, saying the operation was in retaliation for an attack on a Cyprus-flagged commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iranian missile launchers, naval assets and military infrastructure used to threaten shipping in the vital waterway.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and launched attacks on US military installations in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and other Gulf states hosting American forces.
Iranian authorities said the strikes were retaliation for what they described as continued US aggression, while Washington insisted commercial shipping lanes remain open despite Tehran’s announcement.
The renewed hostilities have heightened fears of a wider regional conflict and renewed concerns over global energy supplies, as the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Several countries have called for restraint and renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
