The United States and Iran exchanged fresh military strikes over the weekend, with both sides issuing conflicting statements about the status of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had closed the Strait of Hormuz until further notice after attacking a commercial vessel, which it said caught fire and was abandoned by its crew.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) disputed the claim, stating that commercial shipping continued through the waterway and that Iran does not control the strait. CENTCOM said US forces had supported the transit of more than 800 vessels carrying over 400 million barrels of crude oil through the strait over the past two months. US President Donald Trump also said the waterway remained open to commercial traffic.
However, independent maritime tracking data indicated that vessel traffic through the strait declined significantly over the weekend.
The latest military exchanges followed Iran's reported attack on a commercial vessel. The United States said it responded with strikes on around 140 Iranian military sites, including missile, drone and communications facilities.
Iran later launched missile and drone attacks targeting US military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan said they intercepted incoming projectiles, while Kuwait reported damage to border posts and an offshore oil rig. Qatar said three people, including a child, were injured during interception efforts.
On Sunday, the US carried out a second round of strikes. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation targeted Iranian capabilities linked to threats against commercial shipping.
The renewed hostilities have cast uncertainty over an interim ceasefire reached last month following negotiations aimed at easing tensions. Oman continues to mediate between the two sides and has proposed a framework for managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Regional leaders, including those from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, Jordan and the UAE, held diplomatic discussions on the situation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for restraint, warning that further escalation could have serious regional and global consequences.
