The US military launched fresh strikes on Iran on Sunday after Tehran struck a container ship and announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, escalating attacks on US facilities across Gulf states. The series of attacks over the past several days led President Donald Trump to declare the end of a ceasefire that had halted fighting since February 28, though Trump left the door open to continued negotiations.
Strait of Hormuz Closure and Warning Shots
Iran said it closed the strait after firing a warning shot that struck a vessel traveling on an unapproved route. It warned that any retaliation would be met with a "severe response." US Central Command, however, said commercial vessels continue to transit through the waterway, which carried one-fifth of the world's oil and LNG shipments before the war.
US Strikes on Iranian Targets
Central Command said US forces hit 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday, part of more than 300 strikes over three nights aimed at "degrading Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the strait." Iranian state media reported explosions in several port cities.
Iranian Retaliation Across the Gulf
In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday they had destroyed a command and control centre and drone hangars at a base in US ally Jordan, targeted a US military radar site in Kuwait, attacked US aircraft carrier support and refueling platforms in Oman, and destroyed a fighter jet maintenance centre and command and control facility in Qatar. The Guards also said they struck and disabled a second vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems engaged missiles and drones from Iran, while warning sirens sounded in Bahrain and explosions were heard in Doha.
Escalation in Pace and Targets
Tehran's strikes marked a sharp escalation in pace and targets. In recent weeks, Iran had hit sites in Kuwait and Bahrain while avoiding Qatar since early April and the UAE since early May. The war has destabilized the Gulf, while Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused energy prices to surge, fueling global inflation and raising fears of an economic slowdown. Higher prices, especially for gasoline, are a politically sensitive issue for Trump ahead of the November congressional elections.
Iran's Justification and Warning
Iran said several ships attempted to move through the waterway on an "unauthorised route" and disregarded warnings to correct their course. The strait will remain closed until "the end of US interference in this region," the Revolutionary Guards said.
Diplomatic Exchanges and Accusations
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused the United States of violating the ceasefire agreement. "There can only be mutual compliance," he wrote on X on Friday. On Sunday, Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf posted on X: "The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking." The US revoked the license authorizing the sale of Iranian crude on Tuesday after three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire earlier in the week, prompting the US to hit Iranian sites. Iran then struck US military sites in Gulf states.
Oman Mediation and Talks
While Iran has not claimed responsibility for the ship attacks, analysts say Tehran uses such actions to gain leverage in negotiations. Araqchi and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi met in Oman to exchange "views on appropriate mechanisms for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz," according to a statement from the Iranian foreign minister. Oman's state news agency said Omani and Iranian negotiators would continue talks "at the technical and political levels."
Threat of Vengeance from Iran's New Supreme Leader
A written statement from Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, on Saturday threatened vengeance for the death of his predecessor and father, who was killed in the war's initial attacks. It said the vengeance would take place, whatever happened to Iran. "We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs," the message said. The statement was released to mark funeral ceremonies for the former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday. His son did not attend the ceremonies and has not been seen in public since the war began.
