The United States military has initiated a third round of strikes against Iran, hours after Tehran announced the closure of the critical Strait of Hormuz. This escalation followed an incident where Iran’s military fired a warning shot that struck a Cyprus-flagged container ship, causing significant damage and leaving a civilian crew member missing.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the new strikes, which reportedly caused explosions in the Iranian towns of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, located along the shores of the strait, according to Iran state media. The American military stated, “The United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth further underscored the U.S. position on social media, posting, “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, however, offered a different account, stating that multiple vessels “disregarded our warnings and instructions to correct their course and proceed along the approved route.” They confirmed that one of these vessels “was struck by a warning shot and brought to a stop.” Following the incident, Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed “until further notice” and warned it would consider targeting “additional enemy bases in the region” if it faced more attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital international waterway through which approximately a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passed before the war, has been a long-standing point of contention. While the world has considered it an international waterway for decades, Iran has insisted since the war began that the strait remain under its control, allowing it to charge ships for passage. The U.S. advises mariners to use a southern route through Oman’s territorial waters. Iran’s previous grip on the strait during the war contributed to a global energy crisis, though oil prices have since dropped from wartime highs of $120 a barrel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had met with his Omani counterpart to discuss “appropriate mechanisms for ensuring the safe passage of ships” prior to the latest U.S. strikes, wrote on social media, “Reality check: There can only be mutual compliance.”
The recent events add to already heightened tensions. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen since the war began, issued his first statement since the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday, July 11, 2026. He vowed that Iranians would avenge his father’s killing in the war’s opening strikes on February 28, stating on state television that such revenge “is the will of our nation and must certainly be carried out.” This statement came hours after President Donald Trump threatened more missile attacks.
President Trump himself claimed to be the target of an Iranian plot and warned that the U.S. military would automatically retaliate if he were killed. Early Saturday, he posted on social media, “1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat.” He clarified that any such retaliation would be ordered by Vice President JD Vance, who would become commander-in-chief in such an event. Trump stated he was responding to threats “to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate” him, noting that mourners at Khamenei’s funeral held posters calling for his and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s deaths. Despite declaring the ceasefire over, Trump indicated the U.S. would continue negotiations.
The broader regional conflict has also seen recent activity. After U.S. strikes on Thursday, more attacks reportedly hit Iran, raising questions about other potential actors. Israel did not claim responsibility, suggesting Gulf Arab states might have launched them, possibly to deter further Iranian aggression. Iran had retaliated for previous U.S. strikes on Thursday by targeting Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar. Separately, strikes within Iran over two days, prior to the warning shot incident, killed at least 17 people and wounded 115 others, according to Iranian Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour. Iran maintains its theocracy is unified under its new supreme leader.
