The United States and Iran appear to be sliding back toward war as fresh military strikes around the Strait of Hormuz threaten last month’s fragile ceasefire.
The latest escalation came today after the United States launched strikes on Iranian missile systems, air defences and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) speedboats around the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters, citing Axios and a senior U.S. official.
The strikes followed several days of intensified bombardment across Iran, with Iranian authorities reporting attacks across at least 10 provinces. Al Jazeera reported that U.S. fighter jets and warships have struck hundreds of military targets and several civilian sites in at least ten provinces, while Iran claims the attacks have killed military personnel and civilians and damaged critical infrastructure.
Iran has responded by declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed once again, accusing the U.S. of violating last month’s memorandum of understanding. The IRGC said two commercial vessels using a Western-backed shipping route were struck, while Tehran also claimed responsibility for attacks on U.S. interests in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar and Oman.
Residents in Tehran expressed growing fears that another prolonged conflict is beginning, Al Jazeera reported.
Meanwhile, attacks on electricity infrastructure have cut a significant portion of Iran’s generation capacity. New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has called for revenge following the U.S.’s disruption of his father’s funeral procession.
