Iran-US escalation enters a new phase: reciprocal strikes and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz

Military developments between Iran and the United States are accelerating as confrontations in the region intensify, amid an exchange of strikes and threats that portend wide-ranging repercussions for maritime security and regional stability.

Washington announced that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had targeted a Cyprus-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the loss of one crew member and causing major damage to the ship, stressing that the attack prompted it to carry out a new wave of strikes against Iranian targets.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had targeted around 140 military sites inside Iran, including facilities linked to missiles and drones, as well as naval capabilities, weapons depots, communications networks, and coastal surveillance positions.

In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz "until further notice," while Iranian media confirmed that Tehran had carried out a series of attacks targeting US positions in several parts of the Middle East.

The Iranian military also issued a warning to the United States, urging it to abide by the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides, or face what it described as "paying the price."

Amid the escalating security tensions, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry announced the activation of warning sirens for the third time during the morning hours, while the Oman News Agency, citing a security source, reported that sites in Musandam Governorate had come under attack by drones.

These developments come amid international fears of a widening confrontation and its repercussions for shipping and energy flows through one of the world’s most important maritime corridors.