The United States launched a third round of military strikes on Iran on Saturday after Iranian forces attacked a Cypriot-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz and declared the vital waterway closed, escalating tensions in one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had completed the third round of strikes against Iran, targeting approximately 140 military sites with precision-guided munitions. The strikes were launched at 7:15 p.m. EST on Saturday, roughly an hour after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed.

The targets included Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations. The U.S. military said the strikes were in response to an attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, which suffered significant engine-room damage and left one civilian crew member missing.

Iran's IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice, citing U.S. interference in the region. The IRGC claimed it had warned several ships not to use what it described as an unauthorized route through the strait and fired a "warning shot" after the cargo ship failed to change course.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil and LNG supplies, has caused energy prices to surge, fueling global inflation. The recent escalation follows a series of attacks between the U.S. and Iran over the past several days, leading President Donald Trump to declare the end of a ceasefire agreement.

The U.S. has demanded that Iran publicly state it will stop attacks on ships in the strait and open all lanes without tolls. However, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire agreement, stating, "There can only be mutual compliance."

The conflict has also seen Iran launch attacks on U.S. bases in Gulf states, including Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, and Jordan. The U.S. military said it was imposing a "heavy cost" on Iran for its repeated attacks on commercial shipping.

The situation remains fluid, with ongoing diplomatic talks in Oman aimed at resolving the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. However, the recent escalation has further threatened the fragile ceasefire agreement between the two countries.

As the conflict continues, the global community watches closely, with concerns about the impact on energy prices and the potential for further escalation in the region.

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Articles

Iran-Oman Hormuz talks overtaken by escalation as Tehran closes strait Iran and Oman discussed Hormuz shipping security in Muscat hours before Iran closed the strait and struck US bases and Gulf states, after CENTCOM said the US hit around 140 targets in Iran.

intellinews · about 12 hours ago

Iran Attacks Cyprus-flagged Ship and US Bases, Pentagon Retaliates Iran has closed again the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a Cyprus-flagged ship and launching missiles at US bases in the Gulf, in response to Pentagon striking targets in Iran. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the incident occurred 9 nautical miles east of Oman. The ship carrying containers caught fire […]

greek reporter · about 12 hours ago

US strikes Iran again after blatant attack in Strait of Hormuz

bluesky_The Times · about 12 hours ago

Irans Revolutionary Guard closes Strait of Hormuz indefinitely Irans Revolutionary Guard Navy announced on Sunday that it has closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz indefinitely after warning fire stopped a vessel accused of violating navigation orders, declaring that the vital waterway would remain shut until US interventions in the region end.