The United States has initiated a fresh series of strikes against Iran, responding to Tehran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz and its subsequent attack on a ship navigating the vital waterway. According to US Central Command (Centcom), this marks the third round of military strikes conducted this week, triggered after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces allegedly carried out a blatant attack on a Cyprus-flagged vessel.
State media in Iran confirmed that authorities have closed the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. The IRGC reported that the targeted vessel, the MV GFS Galaxy, was attacked after it purportedly diverted from an approved route and disabled its tracking systems. Centcom stated that the ship sustained significant damage to its engine room, rendering it unable to continue its journey, and noted that one civilian crew member remains missing. The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) indicated that military authorities reported the crew was forced to abandon the vessel and are currently in a lifeboat.
In a statement shared on X, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth remarked that Iran had been given another opportunity to comply with a memorandum of understanding regarding commercial shipping but failed to do so, adding, “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.” Iranian officials have countered by warning that any US aggression following the closure of the strait will be met with severity, including potential strikes on new regional bases.
Earlier this week, three other commercial tankers were attacked while transiting through Omani waters, leading to a prior exchange of strikes that resulted in 17 deaths and 115 injuries among Iranian personnel, according to local officials. Despite the ongoing military friction, the US has signaled that diplomatic efforts through mediators remain active. American officials are demanding that Iran publicly acknowledge that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and commit to ending attacks on commercial shipping.
This latest escalation follows a call for vengeance from Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership following the death of his predecessor, Ali Khamenei, in an air strike on February 28. Reading a statement on state television, the new ayatollah said that vengeance was the “will of the nation.” During funeral proceedings for the late leader in Mashhad, many Iranians carried placards calling for the killing of US President Donald Trump, who on Saturday warned that any such plans would see the US “decimate and destroy all areas” of Iran in response. While reports from the Wall Street Journal and other media suggested Israel had shared intelligence regarding Iranian plans to target the US president, President Trump denied the existence of such a plot in an interview with the New York Post. How Iran’s new regime is very different to what came before remains a point of intense international scrutiny.
The Guards said the vessel was "hit by warning shots and stopped" after ignoring repeated instructions, according to a statement carried by state news agency
"The matter depends neither on my personal existence nor on that of other officials. Whether we are present or not, it will come to pass."
