The confrontation between the United States and Iran escalated sharply on Sunday, with Washington launching a new wave of strikes on Iran’s southern coast and Tehran responding with a declaration that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed “until further notice.”

The strikes were reported near Bushehr, Asalouyeh, Bandar Abbas, Bandar-e Dayyer, and Sirik, while explosions were also reported near Qeshm Island, a key point along the strategically vital shipping lane.

Iranian state media said the blasts followed US attacks on military and coastal infrastructure and later reported one person killed and two injured in the Qeshm area.

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A perilous wager at sea

The IRGC said no vessels would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz until what it described as foreign interference came to an end.

Iran’s newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority went further, saying transit through the waterway was not possible at present and citing what it called “recent illegal movements” by US military forces.

The IRGC intercepted a cargo vessel after firing a warning shot when the ship tried to pass through the strait despite being told not to.

The Iranian narrative was reinforced by comments from officials and state media that framed the waterway as a national security issue, with one Iranian leader quoted as saying the passage was more important than “dozens of atomic bombs.”

Not so fast, says Washington

Washington rejected Tehran’s closure claim. CENTCOM said, “Iran does not control the strait. Traffic is flowing,” and later said the strait “remains an international waterway” and that US forces were “positioned and prepared to keep it that way.”

In an NBC interview, US President Donald Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz was open, directly contradicting Iran’s claim. The US-backed Joint Maritime Information Center said the southern route through the strait remained open for two-way traffic.

The UN chief, António Guterres, urged both sides to stop the fighting and resume talks, with spokesman Stéphane Dujarric saying, “These attacks must stop.”

The ripples spread far beyond the strait

The latest escalation followed an incident involving a commercial vessel off Oman, where the crew abandoned the ship after it suffered serious damage and one civilian crew member remained missing.

Kuwait’s defense ministry said three border posts in the north and an offshore drilling rig were damaged in what it called a “hostile, criminal attack,” with one worker injured.

The UAE also said its air defense systems had been activated in response to a missile threat.

Together, the developments point to a widening confrontation in and around the Gulf, with shipping security, energy infrastructure, and regional stability all now in the crosshairs.

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FAQs

Q1: Why is the Strait of Hormuz important to global trade?

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping route through which a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports passes.

Q2: Did Iran actually close the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran’s IRGC declared the strait closed, but the US said maritime traffic continued and the waterway remained open.