Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, US Launches Airstrikes

Tehran. The United States has launched a new phase of airstrikes on Iran after Iran announced the closure of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. 

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the US has carried out the third major military operation this week after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran attacked a merchant ship flying the flag of Cyprus.

According to Iranian media, the IRGC fired cruise missiles, stating that the ship passing through Hormuz had changed its approved route and ignored warnings. 

Iran has announced that the Hormuz has been completely closed until further notice. In response, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Iran had made a wrong decision and would have to pay the price. According to CENTCOM, the Iranian attack caused significant damage to the ship's engine room and one crew member went missing.

In the background of this military tension is the vow of revenge by Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. Mojtaba Khamenei had vowed to take revenge with blood against enemies immediately after the funeral of his father and former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28. Thousands of Iranians participating in the funeral ceremony in Mashhad even demonstrated, demanding the assassination of US President Donald Trump.

However, US President Donald Trump strongly countered the Iranian threat, warning that if Iran takes any unpleasant step, all its areas will be destroyed. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the US of violating the ceasefire agreement. The BBC has reported in its news that this conflict has created a serious crisis in global oil supply and international security.