Tehran says Strait of Hormuz shut after US launches fresh strikes on Iran; Gulf states hit

Lead

The United States military launched fresh strikes on Iran on Sunday after Iranian forces struck a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tehran to announce the closure of the strategic waterway and to fire missiles and drones at neighbouring Gulf states. The exchange marked a sharp escalation in the long-running standoff over the strait, through which about a fifth of the world's oil supplies normally pass.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had closed the strait after firing a warning shot that struck a vessel travelling on what it called an "unauthorised route." The Guards warned that any retaliation would be met with a "severe response." US Central Command (Centcom) identified the vessel as the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, saying it suffered significant engine-room damage and that a civilian crew member was missing. India said one of its nationals was missing after the attack, while Oman said 23 crew members had been rescued.

Coverage comparison

Reports from Dawn, The Guardian, and RFI all describe a cycle of strikes and counter-strikes, with the US military hitting targets inside Iran and Iran responding by attacking countries in the region that host US forces. Dawn's coverage emphasised the breadth of the escalation, noting that attacks extended to the United Arab Emirates, which had not been targeted since early May, and Qatar, which had not come under attack since April. The Guardian reported that American forces also boarded a ship in the Gulf of Oman as part of a renewed blockade of Iran's ports, and that the US expanded its airstrike campaign to include bridges, in line with President Donald Trump's threats to destroy infrastructure. RFI, citing Iranian state media, reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Jask and on Qeshm Island, as well as in Khuzestan province.

The sources differ on the sequence of events leading to the closure. Dawn and RFI state that Iran announced the closure after the US strikes, while The Guardian reported that Iran fired on its Gulf neighbours "in retaliation to a number of US strikes." The Guardian also quoted Iranian state media as saying the strikes had "rendered futile" all diplomatic efforts of recent months. Dawn, however, framed the US strikes as a response to Iran's initial attack on the container ship.

Key claims

• Iran's Revolutionary Guards struck a container ship travelling through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, which the US military said was the trigger for its fresh strikes. The Guards later said they had hit a second vessel, accusing it of "violating regulations."
• Iran's IRGC announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz "until further notice and until the end of American interventions in this region." The move followed the strike on the container ship, which Iran described as a warning shot.
• Iran launched missiles and drones at several Gulf states, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. A number of countries reported intercepting attacks, with Qatar saying three people were injured, and Jordan saying three Iranian missiles fell on its territory.
• The US military said it struck at least 140 targets in Iran, including missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition depots, communication networks and surveillance locations. Iranian state media reported explosions in multiple port cities and provinces, including around Tehran and Semnan, home to Iran's ballistic missile production and space programme.
• US Central Command claimed that commercial vessels continue to transit through the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran's announcement. "Iran does not control the strait. Traffic is flowing," Centcom said. It said its forces were positioned to safeguard freedom of navigation.
• American forces boarded a ship in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday as part of the renewed blockade of Iran's ports, according to Centcom.
• Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed revenge for the killing of his father and predecessor, saying "vengeance is the will of our nation and must inevitably be carried out." A single report carried this statement.
• The US revoked the licence authorising the sale of Iranian crude after Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire, according to one report.
• Lindsey Graham, longtime US senator and key ally of Donald Trump, died from a sudden illness at the age of 71, his office said. Graham, who had served in the Senate since 2003, was running for re-election in November.

Perspectives

Iranian government and IRGC: Iran says it closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to US military movements and strikes, and frames its attacks on Gulf states as retaliation for US aggression. The IRGC said the strait will remain closed until "the end of US interference in this region," and warned of a "severe response" to any further retaliation.

United States military and administration: The US military says its strikes are aimed at degrading Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial shipping, and maintains that it is safeguarding freedom of navigation through the strait. President Trump said the US was "winning big in Iran" and that Americans "will see the fruits of that labour very, very shortly."

Gulf states: Governments in Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan reported responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks, with several saying they had intercepted incoming projectiles. Qatar advised all vessels, including leisure boats, fishing boats and jet skis, to suspend activities.