TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz as tensions in West Asia escalated sharply, while the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that it had carried out a third round of airstrikes against Iran this week.
According to CENTCOM, the latest strikes followed allegations that Iran attacked a Cyprus-flagged cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported powerful explosions in several key port cities, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chabahar, Bandar-e Deyr and Asaluyeh. The state broadcaster IRIB also reported that US attacks continued in Bushehr province.
According to IRIB, at least 12 explosions were heard across Bushehr province, including five in the port city of Bandar-e Deyr, four in Asaluyeh and three in the city of Bushehr.
Earlier, the IRGC announced that it had temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz after firing warning shots at a vessel attempting to pass through what it described as an unauthorized route. In a statement posted on its Telegram channel, the force said one vessel was struck and forced to halt its voyage.
The IRGC said the strategic waterway would remain closed until further notice and until what it described as US interference in the region comes to an end. It also warned that any new attack on Iran would be met with a severe response and that enemy military bases across the region could become targets. Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that a cruise missile had been fired at the vessel.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi in Muscat to discuss mechanisms for ensuring the safe passage of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the talks focused on maintaining maritime traffic under an interim arrangement.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei also vowed to avenge the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, whom Iran says was killed in attacks by US and Israeli forces. “Revenge is the will of our nation,” Khamenei said.
US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, issued a fresh warning to Tehran, saying on his Truth Social platform that the United States had “1,000 missiles locked and loaded” and was prepared to “completely destroy” targets across Iran if the country attempted to assassinate the US President. He said the necessary military orders had already been issued and that US forces were ready to act if required.
