Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, US conducts third round of airstrikes
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that the Strait of Hormuz is closed until further notice after a vessel that turned off its transponder and ignored warning shots was struck. The IRGC said the ship attempted an unauthorised route and threatened further retaliation against any U.S. bases if attacks continue.
The United States’ Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a third round of airstrikes on Iranian targets, describing the response as retaliation for the IRGC’s attack on the Cyprus‑flagged container ship MV GFS Galaxy. The strike damaged the ship’s engine room, left it unable to continue its voyage and left one civilian crew member missing. U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran had “made a poor choice” and would face consequences.
Both sides exchanged accusations: the U.S. demanded that Iran reopen the waterway and cease attacks on commercial shipping, while Tehran warned of “severe retaliation” against any further U.S. aggression. Regional mediators – Oman, Qatar and Pakistan – continued talks on safe navigation, with Oman proposing a toll‑free southern corridor and Iranian‑approved northern passage.
The closure threatens global oil supplies, as roughly one‑fifth of world oil and gas transits the strait. The escalation has raised concerns about rising oil prices and broader security in the Gulf. New Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei pledged revenge for his father’s killing, adding a political dimension to the military standoff.