How the Strait of Hormuz is monitored as US and Iran escalate attacks

Lead

The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway crucial to global trade, has become the focal point of escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran. Over recent days, both sides have traded fire, with Iran announcing the closure of the strait and the US asserting it does not control the passage. The dispute threatens to derail efforts to end a war that began on 28 February, according to BBC reporting.

Coverage comparison

Reports from Africa News, Al Jazeera, BBC, and Dawn all describe the conflict as a struggle for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Africa News frames the situation as a direct military confrontation, reporting that the US and Iran have been "trading fire" and that the conflict has killed over 35 people and wounded more than 300. Al Jazeera focuses on Iran's internal unity and its rejection of US claims of confusion, while Dawn criticizes what it calls US-Israeli aggression and warns of the risk of full-scale war. BBC reports the exchange of strikes and the potential impact on ceasefire negotiations.

Key claims

• Conflict and casualties: Africa News reports that the US and Iran are fighting for control of the Strait of Hormuz, with strikes exchanged in the early hours of Thursday. The conflict, it says, has killed over 35 people and wounded over 300. Al Jazeera reports at least 30 civilians killed and 11 provinces across Iran affected by the fighting.

• Closure and monitoring: According to Africa News, Iran closed the strait to shipping after the US and Israel launched a war on 28 February. BBC reports that Iran announced the closure over the weekend, while the US insisted it was not controlled by Iran and that traffic was flowing. Africa News quotes Commodore Steve Prest, a retired naval officer and Associate Fellow at RUSI, explaining that there is no single monitoring authority. Both sides use a range of means—radar from warships, surveillance drones, maritime patrol aircraft, satellites, and shipping data—to build a coherent picture of activity in and around the strait. Commercial solutions can also track electronic emissions, radio transmissions, radar signals, and infrared heat plumes observable from space.

• Escalation and retaliation: Africa News reports that the US intensified its strikes, hitting targets farther north and firing into a ship accused of breaking a naval blockade. Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at US allies, warning of further escalation. Dawn reports that Iran attacked ships using a route it had not authorized, and that the US hit Iranian facilities close to the coast. Tehran, it says, responded by hitting US bases and infrastructure from Jordan to the GCC states.

• Negotiations and alternatives: Al Jazeera reports that Iran has offered a third route for vessels to transit during talks in Oman, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi. BBC reports that the escalation has cast doubt over the preliminary agreement signed in June to end the conflict and reopen the strait.

• Leadership perceptions: Al Jazeera reports that the US has attempted to project an image of a confused Iranian leadership, with President Donald Trump claiming "nobody knows who is in charge." Iranian authorities have rejected this characterization, emphasizing a unified position on maintaining control over passage through the strait. Dawn, however, suggests that the elimination of leaders like Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Ali Larijani may have empowered hardline factions within Iran.

Perspectives

US stance: According to Al Jazeera, US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran's leadership is confused and that "nobody knows who is in charge," suggesting internal disarray. The US has also insisted that it does not accept Iran's closure of the strait and has maintained that traffic continues to flow.

Iranian stance: Iranian authorities, as reported by Al Jazeera, reject US portrayals of confusion and emphasize a unified position on controlling passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Iran has offered a third route for vessels during talks in Oman, indicating a willingness to negotiate while maintaining leverage.

Analyst commentary: Dawn's editorial commentary attributes the crisis to "unprovoked US-Israeli aggression" and warns of the possibility of a full-scale war if brinksmanship continues. This contrasts with the more neutral framing in Africa News and BBC, which focus on the mechanics of monitoring and the diplomatic stakes.