The United States and Iran carried out retaliatory strikes early Sunday following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated it had struck a container ship for using an unauthorized route. The US Central Command confirmed its forces had begun a third round of strikes, aiming to “degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait.”
The IRGC’s navy announced the closure of the strait, issuing a warning that any retaliation for the incident would be met with a “severe response.” According to the IRGC statement, the vessel had jeopardized maritime security by switching off its systems and was brought to a halt after disregarding warnings to correct its course.
A Cyprus-flagged container ship involved in the incident sustained significant engine room damage, and one civilian crew member is reported missing, according to US Central Command. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) received a report of the incident occurring nine nautical miles east of Oman, noting that the container ship suffered damage to its rear, causing an onboard fire.
Hours after the initial incident, the United Arab Emirates’ defense ministry reported that its air defenses were engaged in intercepting missile and drone threats, while neighboring Bahrain sounded air raid sirens. Explosions were heard across the UAE, attributed by the ministry to ongoing engagement operations against missiles and UAVs. Bahrain’s interior ministry urged citizens to remain calm and seek safety.
Iran’s statement indicated that multiple ships had attempted to traverse the waterway on an “unauthorised route.” The IRGC declared the strait closed “until further notice” and pending the “end of US interference in this region.” The navy also asserted that acts of aggression against Iran would be met with a severe response, with new enemy bases in the region being targeted.
Amidst these escalating tensions, reports emerged of ongoing diplomatic efforts. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Iran, the US, Qatar, and Pakistan had agreed to negotiate, with mediators attempting to arrange a call. This followed reports of a Qatari delegation traveling to Iran on Friday.
The situation is underscored by recent exchanges of fire between the two nations earlier in the week, which have jeopardized an interim agreement aimed at ending the broader conflict that began in late February. Former President Trump had declared a ceasefire over but left the door open for talks, while mediators have been working to salvage a diplomatic solution.
In parallel, former President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that any attempt to assassinate him would result in the United States “completely decimating” Iran. He stated that “1000 missiles are locked and loaded” and ready to be deployed if Iran acts on threats to assassinate the US president.
News outlets Axios and Politico reported that Washington had set a Saturday deadline for Tehran to cease firing on commercial ships transiting Hormuz and to acknowledge the waterway’s openness.
“Vengeance is the will of our nation and must inevitably be carried out,” new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written message. “This matter depends neither on my personal existence nor on that of other officials. Whether we are present or not, it will come to pass,” he wrote in his first message since his father’s funeral this week. He said Iran had compiled a list of individuals to be targeted.
Both sides carried out exchanges of fire earlier this week, rocking an interim agreement aimed at ending the war, which broke out in late February with massive US-Israeli strikes that killed the then supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
