Tehran (Web Desk): Iran’s military announced on Thursday that it had completely shut down the Strait of Hormuz after two straight days of exchange of strikes between Tehran and Washington, a development that has further heightened fears over the already shaky ceasefire between the two sides.
The renewed confrontation followed a warning from US President Donald Trump, who said the United States would hit Iran “hard” if it did not move forward with a peace agreement.
Shortly after his remarks, US forces carried out a series of Tomahawk missile strikes on Iranian sites, with US Central Command describing the operation as defensive action.
Reports from Iranian media said explosions were heard in multiple parts of the country, including areas near the Strait of Hormuz, while air defence systems were activated in Tehran in response to incoming threats.
In retaliation, Iran launched drone and missile attacks aimed at US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.
Iranian armed forces also issued a strong warning that any oil tankers or commercial vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical route for nearly one-fifth of global oil trade—would be targeted and fired upon.
The US military, however, dismissed Iran’s claim, insisting that commercial shipping activity in and out of the strait continued normally throughout the night.
The latest surge in hostilities has once again exposed the fragility of the ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran that was brokered in early April and now appears increasingly unstable.
Maritime traffic through the strait has already been heavily restricted since March following US-Israeli strikes on Iranian positions, a situation that has contributed to rising global oil and gas prices.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump also said that US forces had quietly supported around 200 commercial vessels in moving more than 100 million barrels of oil through the strategic waterway.