United States Military Strikes On Iran: US launches third straight night of strikes on Iran as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
The United States launched a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran on early Tuesday (local time Monday), targeting Iranian military assets as tensions continued to rise over control of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.US Central Command (Centcom) said the latest strikes began at 4:45 pm ET on Monday at the direction of President Donald Trump.“These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” Centcom said in a post on X.A US official cited by CNN said that American forces targeted Iranian military assets, including coastal surveillance systems, drone capabilities and missile infrastructure.The strikes marked the third consecutive night of US attacks on Iran amid a widening confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which a significant share of global oil supplies passes.
Explosions reported in southern Iran
Following the US announcement, Iranian state media reported multiple explosions across southern Iran.Three explosions were heard in the port city of Bandar Abbas, according to Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).The Hormozgan provincial government said a projectile struck the western part of Bandar Abbas but no casualties were immediately reported, according to semi-official Fars News Agency.Explosions were also reported on the islands of Kish, Qeshm and Abu Musa, as well as in Jam and Kangan in Bushehr province, Fars reported.The reported strikes came days after Washington and Tehran exchanged attacks, with both sides escalating military operations around the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump vows further strikes, reinstates Iran blockade
The latest US strikes came shortly after President Donald Trump announced plans to reinstate a blockade on Iranian shipping and impose a 20% charge on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.“The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, according to Reuters.He said the US would collect the fee as “a matter of FAIRNESS” for providing security in the region.Trump also warned of further military action against Iran.“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight, and we’re going to hit them hard tomorrow. And there’s not a damn thing they can do about it,” he said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, according to Reuters.In remarks to reporters, Trump said the US was targeting Iran’s offensive capabilities.“We’re hitting them very hard. And it’ll continue, and we’ll see what happens,” he said.“We’re knocking out all of their offensive capability and we’re controlling the straits. We’re putting the blockade back,” he added.
Strait of Hormuz becomes centre of US-Iran confrontation
The escalation has centred around the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran and the US have clashed over control of one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.Before the conflict, around one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies passed through the strait every day. Disruptions to traffic through the waterway have already pushed global oil prices higher.Oil prices jumped more than 9% on Monday, with Brent crude recording its biggest single-day dollar gain since April 2 and settling at its highest level since June 12.The US military has argued that its actions are aimed at protecting commercial shipping after accusing Iranian forces of attacking vessels in the waterway.Centcom previously said it had conducted strikes against Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks and coastal surveillance locations.Iran, meanwhile, has insisted it has the authority to regulate traffic through the strait.Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi mocked Trump’s announcement on X, saying Tehran remained the “guardian” of the waterway.“POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service,” Araghchi wrote.“Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER. 20% is of course too much. We will be fair,” he added.
US blockade to take effect Tuesday
The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) said the maritime blockade of Iranian ports, oil terminals and coastal areas would take effect from Tuesday.The measure will apply to vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, regardless of their flag, while neutral transit to and from non-Iranian destinations will not be affected.The International Maritime Organisation has opposed mandatory fees for transit through international waterways, saying there is no legal basis for imposing such tolls.The renewed military escalation has further complicated efforts to restore a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with markets and shipping operators closely monitoring whether the confrontation spreads further across the Gulf region.
