The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified on Saturday after the US military launched a third round of strikes this week, targeting 140 Iranian military sites in response to an attack on a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the strategic waterway, leaving one crew member missing. CENTCOM said the operation began at 7:15 p.m. ET and remains ongoing, describing the strikes as a response ordered by President Donald Trump to impose “a heavy cost” on Iran.
“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also defended the operation, posting on social media: “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.”
In a major escalation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz after firing warning shots at a vessel in the area. The waterway is one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, and its closure is expected to heighten concerns over global energy supplies and regional security.
Iranian state media also reported explosions in several locations along the country’s southern coast, while authorities in multiple Gulf nations said they intercepted incoming attacks. The IRGC further claimed it carried out retaliatory strikes against Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, signaling a widening scope of the confrontation.
The latest exchange marks one of the most serious escalations between Washington and Tehran in recent years, raising fears of a broader regional conflict involving key Middle Eastern allies and vital international shipping lanes.
Credit CNN
