US Launches Fresh Strikes on Iran After IRGC Ship Attack, Strait of Hormuz Shut

Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed "until further notice," escalating tensions with the United States after its military fired on a vessel it said was using an unauthorised route through the critical waterway. The move deals a fresh blow to the already fragile ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.

US Central Command confirmed shortly after that American forces had begun a third round of strikes against Iran. Iranian state media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas and Sirik, two towns along the strait's shoreline.

US Says It Is 'Imposing A Heavy Cost' On Iran

The US military said it was continuing to degrade Iran's capacity to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the strait. A Cyprus-flagged container ship was hit by Iranian fire and suffered significant engine-room damage, with a civilian crew member reported missing.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on social media that Iran had "made a poor choice" and would now "pay."

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Say Ships Ignored Warnings

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said several vessels had disregarded instructions to correct course and follow the approved route, and that one was struck by a warning shot and brought to a stop. Tehran said it would consider targeting "additional enemy bases in the region" if attacked again.

The exchange followed a Saturday meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and Oman to discuss the strait, part of continuing efforts to salvage the interim deal that had ended the earlier war.

New Supreme Leader Vows Revenge

Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since the war began, issued his first statement since the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He said avenging his father's killing in the war's opening strikes on February 28 was "the will of our nation and must certainly be carried out."

The statement came hours after US President Donald Trump threatened further missile strikes on Iran.

Trump Warns Of '1,000 Missiles Locked And Loaded'

Trump said he had personally been targeted in an Iranian assassination plot and warned that the US military would retaliate automatically if he were killed. He said such a decision would fall to Vice President JD Vance, who would become commander-in-chief in that scenario.

Trump has declared the ceasefire over, though he said Washington would continue negotiations with Tehran.

Oil Markets And Dollar Waivers In Focus

Around a fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas passed through the strait before the war, and Iran's control over it triggered a global energy crisis, though prices have eased sharply from wartime highs of over INR 9,900 (about USD 120) a barrel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of violating the interim deal by ending waivers that had allowed Iran to sell crude oil in US dollars, a step the US took in response to attacks on shipping. Araghchi said on social media that "there can only be mutual compliance."

US officials said the earlier resumption of strikes stemmed from a rogue faction of Iranian hardliners attempting to sabotage the ceasefire, while Tehran maintains its government remains unified under the new supreme leader. Strikes over the two days before the latest incident killed at least 17 people and wounded 115 others, according to Iran's Health Ministry.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 12, 2026 07:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).