Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply on Sunday after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, while the United States insisted that shipping traffic remained active through the strategic waterway.
The dispute follows fresh military exchanges between Tehran and Washington after Iran allegedly targeted a commercial vessel in the strait, forcing its crew to abandon ship.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced that Hormuz would remain closed until what it described as the end of American interference in the region.
However, the US Central Command dismissed the claim, insisting that the waterway remained open and that American forces were prepared to guarantee freedom of navigation.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets.
The confrontation triggered a series of retaliatory attacks. The US said it struck about 140 targets inside Iran, while Tehran launched missile attacks across parts of the Gulf region. Explosions were reported in Qatar, Bahrain and other locations.
The latest crisis has revived fears of a broader regional conflict, threatening global energy supplies and exposing the limitations of recent diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing another prolonged Middle East war.
