Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz After US Launches New Strikes on Iranian Targets
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has confirmed it attacked vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, an immediate response to further US military strikes against Iranian sites. Explosions were reported across several Iranian cities, including Bandar Abbas and Sirik, and on Qeshm island, as the US offensive commenced.
Strait of Hormuz Closure and Market Impact
Following the strikes, Iranian state media reported the Strait of Hormuz was “completely closed to all type of vessel.” This declaration contradicted statements from US Central Command (Centcom), which asserted that “commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz.” However, the announcement prompted a rapid increase in global oil prices, with Brent crude climbing above $95 a barrel after a 2% rise in Asian trading hours.
Escalating Hostilities and Stalled Diplomacy
The latest US strikes occurred hours after President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran “hard again today,” accusing Iranian leaders of taking “too long to negotiate a deal.” This follows earlier remarks from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who stated bombs would be “dropping on key facilities in Iran,” citing Iran’s failure to engage in a peace agreement. In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed Iran “will stand firm against any pressure or threat,” while the Iranian foreign ministry accused the US of “damaging the diplomatic process through the contradictory messages it sends.”
This escalation comes despite a fragile ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran in April, which has seen intermittent exchanges of fire but avoided a return to full-scale hostilities. Recent efforts to facilitate negotiations between Washington and Tehran have stalled, leading to a significant increase in attacks. Earlier, a US helicopter was downed in an attack blamed on Iran, which was met by IRGC targeting US bases across the Middle East. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, warned that the Middle East is “being pulled deeper into crisis,” stating that the “ceasefire is more like a lesser-fire,” and urged all parties to work towards a diplomatic settlement to prevent a “lesser-fire becoming full fire.”
