Iran attacks ship, announces Strait of Hormuz is closed — and US strikes back in response

Key Points:

• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz after firing on a Cyprus-flagged commercial ship, accusing it of jeopardizing maritime security by switching off its systems and ignoring warnings.
• The US responded by launching its third round of strikes against Iranian military installations, targeting missile launchers, drone and missile storage, and surveillance radars, following the attack on the commercial vessel.
• The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for about 20% of the world’s oil supply, was closed "until further notice" and until the US ends its interference in the region, escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington.
• Prior to the escalation, Oman proposed a plan to divide the strait into two lanes managed by Oman and Iran to ensure continued shipping, but hostilities broke out despite these diplomatic efforts.
• President Trump had issued an ultimatum demanding Iran publicly declare the strait safe and warned of severe retaliation if the regime continued attacks, with tensions rising after Trump revealed he had left instructions for a massive military response if he were assassinated by Iran.