Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closed, US launches new strikes

The US military said it launched another round of strikes on Iran after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck a container ship travelling through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

A series of attacks between the US and Iran over the past several days led President Donald Trump to declare the end of a ceasefire meant to halt the fighting that the US and Israel began on February 28, though Trump has left the door open to continued negotiations.

Iran said it closed the ‌vital Strait of Hormuz after firing a warning shot that struck a vessel travelling on an unapproved route. It warned that any retaliation over the incident would be met with a “severe response”.

US Central Command identified the vessel as the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, saying it suffered significant engine-room damage and that a civilian crew member was missing.

The war has destabilised the Gulf, while Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused energy prices to surge, fuelling global inflation. Higher prices, especially for petrol, are a politically sensitive issue for Trump ahead of November’s congressional election.

Iran said several ships attempted to move through the waterway on an “unauthorised route” and disregarded warnings to correct their course. The strait, which was a conduit before the war for one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG supplies, will remain ⁠closed until “the end of US interference in this region”, the Revolutionary Guards said.