Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated into armed conflict as the two countries clash over control of the Strait of Hormuz despite signing an end-of-war MOU last month. Pro-government demonstrators hold anti-Donald Trump placards at a memorial rally for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Seyyed Khamenei in Tehran, Iran. [AP]
Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated into armed conflict as the two countries clash over control of the Strait of Hormuz despite signing an end-of-war MOU last month. Pro-government demonstrators hold anti-Donald Trump placards at a memorial rally for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Seyyed Khamenei in Tehran, Iran. [AP]

Tensions over the Strait of Hormuz are escalating once again.

Iran has declared a blockade of the strait until the United States ends its military involvement, while Washington has resumed large-scale airstrikes, accusing Tehran of violating the end-of-war MOU the two sides signed last month. The dispute over control of the waterway has expanded into open armed conflict despite that agreement.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement Sunday that it was blockading the Strait of Hormuz, claiming vessels had attempted to transit through unauthorized routes.

The IRGC also said it fired warning shots at one ship that moved through an unapproved passage.

US Central Command said on X, formerly Twitter, that the IRGC "brazenly attacked" the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy as it transited the Strait of Hormuz at 7:15 p.m. Eastern time Saturday, and announced it had launched its third round of airstrikes this week.

CENTCOM said the attack left one civilian crew member missing, set the vessel on fire and caused serious damage to the engine room, rendering the ship unable to navigate.

"Iran was given another opportunity to comply with the MOU when it should have been held accountable for previous attacks on commercial vessels — and again chose to squander it," CENTCOM said.

It added that the United States was "continuing to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz freely, imposing severe costs on Iran."

CENTCOM also noted that the strikes were being carried out under the direction of the commander in chief.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared CENTCOM's announcement on X, warning that Iran had "made a terrible choice" and that "they will pay the price."

Explosions and fires were reported across Iran.

Russia's state-run TASS news agency, citing Iranian media, reported that blasts were heard on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz as well as in the southern Iranian cities of Assaluyeh and Bushehr.

Assaluyeh is home to Iran's largest oil refinery complex, while Bushehr hosts the country's only commercial nuclear power plant.

Reuters, citing Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, reported three explosions in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

Blasts were also detected in Sirik and Chabahar in southeastern Iran.

CENTCOM resumed airstrikes against Iran on Saturday after a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz came under Iranian attack. A still image from footage released after CENTCOM announced it had struck Iranian military facilities on Wednesday. [Reuters]
CENTCOM resumed airstrikes against Iran on Saturday after a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz came under Iranian attack. A still image from footage released after CENTCOM announced it had struck Iranian military facilities on Wednesday. [Reuters]

Hours after announcing the start of the strikes, CENTCOM said in a separate statement that it had concluded the day's operations, disclosing that fighter jets, drones and precision-guided munitions were used to hit approximately 140 military targets inside Iran.

The targets included Iranian missile and drone bases, naval facilities, ammunition depots, communications networks and coastal surveillance installations.

CENTCOM said the strikes conducted this week brought the total number of targets hit inside Iran to more than 300, and noted that since early May it had helped more than 800 commercial vessels and 400 million barrels of crude oil transit the Strait of Hormuz.

Although the United States and Iran signed an end-of-war MOU last month, the two sides have remained locked in an uncompromising standoff over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Against that backdrop, the US struck southern Iran on Wednesday and Thursday, and Iran retaliated by attacking American military facilities in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.

The two countries had also exchanged airstrikes and retaliatory attacks on June 26, just nine days after signing the end-of-war MOU.


shindw@heraldcorp.com