Iran said its military fired a warning shot at a vessel travelling through an unauthorised route in the strait, claiming several ships had ignored instructions to change course. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said one vessel was hit and forced to stop.
Shortly after the incident, the US Central Command confirmed that American forces had begun a third round of strikes against Iranian targets. Iranian state media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas and Sirik, two locations along the coast of the Strait of Hormuz.
“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,” US Central Command said.
The US military said a Cyprus-flagged container ship had been struck by Iran, causing major damage to its engine room, while a civilian crew member remained missing.
Iran later announced that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed “until further notice” and warned that it could target additional US-linked bases in the region if further attacks were carried out.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran had made “a poor choice” and would now face consequences.
The latest escalation came after diplomatic talks between Iran and Oman over ensuring safe passage through the strait. Oman said both sides had agreed to continue discussions at technical and political levels.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route, handled nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas shipments before the conflict began. Disruptions in the waterway have triggered concerns over global energy supplies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of violating the ceasefire agreement by ending waivers that allowed Iran to sell crude oil in US dollars, saying that “mutual compliance” was necessary.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Washington had responded to alleged Iranian threats against him, warning that thousands of missiles were prepared for retaliation if Iran attempted to harm him.
The latest strikes follow days of escalating tensions, including attacks on ships in the Gulf region and retaliatory strikes involving Iran, the US and regional allies. Iranian officials said recent US and allied attacks had killed at least 17 people and injured more than 100 others.
