Key Takeaways
- President Trump announced the reinstatement of a US blockade on Iranian shipping in the Gulf.
- Iran retaliated by targeting US military facilities across the region, including Bahrain and Kuwait.
- Oil prices rose due to concerns over the stability of the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump has reinstated a US blockade on Iranian shipping in the Gulf, following new missile and drone attacks by Iran. The move comes after Iran announced it was closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international waterway for oil transport.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, President Trump declared: 'The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE.' He added that the United States would be known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT’ and would seek reimbursement at a rate of 20% on all cargo shipped through the strait.
Iran’s top joint military command responded by stating: 'The US has no role in determining the future of this vital shipping route. It will not be allowed to intervene in its management.' The Revolutionary Guards claimed they had targeted several US military facilities, including those in Bahrain and Kuwait, as well as radar systems in Oman and fuel tanks at Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan.
The United States has also launched a series of strikes against Iranian targets. According to the US military, these included attacks on Iranian air defence systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats. On Monday, the US attacked military sites in southern parts of Iran, including Qeshm, Bandar Abbas, and Abadan, as reported by Iran’s official news agency IRNA.
Bahrain's air defence systems intercepted several Iranian missile and drone attacks early on Monday, highlighting the escalation in hostilities. The latest exchanges mark an increase in both the pace and geographic reach of attacks over the past week, casting doubt on a recent interim US-Iranian agreement to reopen the strait and halt hostilities.
Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, struck a defiant tone: 'The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.' This statement follows an ongoing war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, which has destabilised the Gulf region.
Oil prices have risen due to concerns over the stability of the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict threatens global oil supplies, with significant economic implications for countries heavily reliant on Middle Eastern crude imports. Analysts warn that any disruption in this vital shipping route could lead to further price hikes and supply chain disruptions.
'The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran.'
President Donald Trump, US President
'We had a deal. It was a done deal, and then they broke it. They always break it. We’ve had 10 deals with these people, and so we’re just going to hit them very hard.'
President Donald Trump, US President
'The US has no role in determining the future of this vital shipping route. It will not be allowed to intervene in its management.'
Iran’s top joint military command, Iranian Military Command
