Iran attacks neighboring countries – Strait of Hormuz closed

 

TT

 

Published 01:18Updated 14:07

          

         A mural in Tehran depicting a US aircraft carrier under attack. Picture taken in June. Photo: Vahid             Salemi/AP/TT

The US has launched new attacks on Iran, which is responding with attacks on several countries in the region.

The clashes occur after Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is being closed "until further notice".

"We warned you", writes Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on X.

In Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, drones and missiles were shot down on Sunday. Authorities in Qatar state that three people, including a child, have been injured by shrapnel.

In Jordan and Oman, several Iranian projectiles are reported to have penetrated air defenses. The mediator country Oman condemned the attacks, which are the first against the country in months and come the day after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was received in Muscat for talks on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard also claims that a ship in the strait - the second in just a few hours - was hit after it "violated the rules". According to India's foreign ministry, an Indian sailor is missing.

"Unauthorized route"

The Iranian attacks are described as a response to last night's US attack wave, which was the third this week. On the orders of President Donald Trump, the military command Centcom claims to have targeted 140 Iranian military targets, which in turn is said to be a response to a Cyprus-flagged ship being damaged in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran subsequently declaring the waterway closed.

"Iran made a bad decision. Now they will pay," wrote US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on X on Sunday night.

According to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the waterway was closed after a ship that had taken an “unauthorized route” was stopped with warning shots. The strait will remain closed until “the American interventions in the region are ended,” state Iranian media reported.

American deadline

“The time for unilateral agreements is over. We warned you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking,” writes chief negotiator and speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on X, referring to point five of the US agreement, which stipulates that Iran will be responsible for the “arrangements” in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ahead of the weekend, American media reported that the US had demanded a public statement from Iran, in which the regime in Tehran would declare the strategic strait open and promise to refrain from further attacks on ships in the area.

According to sources, the US had set Saturday as the deadline for such a statement.