US launches new Iran strikes after Strait of Hormuz attack

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated dramatically as the US and Iran exchanged strikes over control of one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. The US launched its third round of strikes this week after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked a Cyprus-flagged vessel, the MV GFS Galaxy, in the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command reported that the vessel suffered significant engine room damage and was forced to abandon ship, with one crew member missing. In response, American forces targeted 140 Iranian military positions, including missile and drone sites, communication networks, and coastal surveillance installations.

Iran’s Bold Closure and Retaliation

Iran has now closed the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, declaring that only vessels following an Iranian-approved route through its territorial waters are permitted passage. The IRGC warned of severe consequences for any US aggression, promising to target new American bases in the region.

Within hours of the US strikes, Iran claimed its “first phase” of retaliation included hitting the Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, claiming destruction of the base’s command center and drone hangars. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain also reported incoming missiles and drones from Iranian forces.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared Centcom’s statement on social media, writing simply: “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.” Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded with his own social media post, declaring the “era of one-sided deals is OVER” and warning that “reality is knocking.”

Rising Stakes and Assassination Threats

The conflict has taken on new urgency following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a February air strike. His successor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, made his first public statement calling for revenge, vowing that vengeance was “the will of the nation.”

At funeral ceremonies in Mashhad, many Iranians carried signs calling for the assassination of US President Donald Trump. The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had shared intelligence suggesting Iran developed an assassination plan against the president, though Trump denied the claim and told the New York Post he had been “No. 1 on Iran’s kill list for a long time.”

Trump responded to assassination threats with characteristic bluntness, warning that any such attempt would result in the US “decimating and destroying all areas” of Iran.

The Tanker Crisis and Route Disputes

This latest exchange stems from three commercial tankers being attacked earlier in the week as they followed a US-recommended shipping route through Omani waters. Iran has consistently claimed that only its proposed corridor through Iranian territorial waters is truly safe. US media reported that Iran privately told American officials the tanker attacks were a mistake caused by a rogue internal group.

American officials have conveyed through mediators a clear demand: Iran must publicly declare the Strait of Hormuz open for international shipping and pledge to cease firing on commercial vessels.

The Strait of Hormuz remains vital to global commerce, and its closure creates ripple effects across energy markets and shipping industries worldwide. Maritime operations have already seen significant disruption, with fewer ships utilizing the US-backed route through the waterway.

Uncertain Path Forward

Despite the escalating military confrontation, Trump indicated that talks would continue and mediators were attempting to revive diplomatic efforts. This mixed messaging reflects the complexity of the situation: military posturing continues even as diplomatic channels remain theoretically open.

The closure of one of the world’s most important shipping routes demonstrates how quickly regional conflicts can threaten global trade and stability. Whether this escalation marks a temporary spike in tensions or signals the beginning of a broader conflict remains unclear, but the rhetoric from both sides suggests neither party is willing to back down easily.

Source: BBC

If neither side can find an off-ramp from this cycle of retaliation, the world’s economy may pay a far steeper price than any military operation.