US launches new strikes after Iran closes Strait of Hormuz

The United States has launched a fresh wave of air strikes against Iran after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz and attacked a commercial cargo vessel travelling through the vital shipping route, dramatically escalating tensions across the Middle East.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest military action was carried out after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a Cyprus-flagged merchant ship, accusing it of ignoring official instructions and sailing along an "unapproved" route.

Commercial ship attacked

According to CENTCOM, the MV GFS Galaxy suffered extensive damage after being struck, leaving its engine room crippled and forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. One civilian crew member remains missing.

The UK's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said surviving crew members escaped aboard a lifeboat after military authorities confirmed the ship could no longer continue its voyage.

Iranian state media claimed the vessel had switched off its tracking systems and ignored repeated warnings before being hit by what it described as "warning shots" and a naval cruise missile.

Strait of Hormuz closed

Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced they were closing the Strait of Hormuz "until further notice," warning that only vessels following routes approved by Tehran would be permitted to pass safely.

The move threatens one of the world's most strategically important waterways, through which a significant proportion of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass every day.

Iran also warned that any further U.S. military action would be met with "severity" and threatened attacks on American military bases across the region.

Washington hits back

CENTCOM described the latest operation as the third round of U.S. strikes this week, accusing Iran of once again violating the ceasefire by attacking commercial shipping.

"Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding... but has again failed," the command said.

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced the message, posting on social media: "Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay."

Ceasefire hangs by a thread

The latest confrontation follows attacks earlier this week on three commercial tankers travelling through a U.S.-recommended shipping corridor near Oman.

Those incidents triggered American air strikes that Iranian officials say killed 17 people and wounded 115 others. Iran later retaliated with missile attacks against U.S.-allied countries in the Gulf.

President Donald Trump subsequently declared that Iran's actions had effectively ended the ceasefire, although Washington has continued diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring the agreement.

Diplomacy under pressure

American officials say Iran has privately admitted the earlier tanker attacks were a mistake, blaming a rogue faction within its own system for attempting to sabotage negotiations.

The United States is demanding that Tehran publicly declare the Strait of Hormuz open to international shipping and commit to ending attacks on commercial vessels before broader negotiations can continue.

Fresh talks are still expected through mediators despite the latest military exchange.

New supreme leader vows revenge

The crisis has intensified following the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new Supreme Leader after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in a U.S.-Israeli air strike earlier this year.

In his first televised address, the new leader vowed to avenge those killed during the conflict, declaring that revenge was "the will of the nation" and warning that those responsible would eventually be punished regardless of who remained in office.

The increasingly hostile rhetoric comes amid reports that U.S. intelligence continues to monitor threats against President Trump, who has warned that any attempt on his life would trigger an overwhelming American military response.

With both military operations and diplomatic negotiations continuing simultaneously, the Strait of Hormuz has once again become the focal point of one of the world's most dangerous geopolitical confrontations.

SOURCE