The US military on Wednesday conducted fresh airstrikes against "multiple targets" in Iran on the orders of President Donald Trump, leading Tehran to announce the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to "all types of vessels," including oil tankers and commercial ships.
US military officials said the strikes were "in response to Iran's unprovoked and persistent acts of aggression." Iran's state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island and the cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik along the Strait of Hormuz. Additional blasts hit the southern city of Kargan, leaving at least two people injured.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accused the US of "repeatedly violating" the ceasefire agreement reached in April and announced that the Strait of Hormuz "will be closed until further notice." The IRGC declared that all traffic on the strategic waterway, including oil tankers and commercial vessels, would be affected. The force also rejected previous US claims of providing passage assistance through the strait.
The IRGC later added that "two oil tankers attempting to illegally transit the strait have been attacked."
The escalation came a day after the US and Iran engaged in retaliatory strikes linked to the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Trump had earlier vowed the US would "hit Iran very hard."
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said: "We'll see what happens with the deal. We were very close to a deal. But they just kept stringing us along. They treat us like fools because they've dealt with some very stupid presidents. I have to say I'm embarrassed to say that."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized Trump's threats in a post on X, writing: "Critical infrastructure is the lifeline of the people. Threats against it—from transport networks to power and water industries—are not a display of strength but a sign of desperation in the face of a nation's will." He added: "Iran, relying on the knowledge and capability of its experts, national unity, and solidarity, will stand firm against any pressure or threat."
