Iran Overview: Iran completely blocks strait after US attacks, US military denies
Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
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- Iran and the US exchanged attacks, with conflicting reports on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the status of US ships.
- Iranian state media claimed the Strait of Hormuz was blocked and US ships were attacked, while the US military denied these claims.
- US President Donald Trump stated he was in direct contact with Iran, which reportedly requested an end to the attacks.
The United States and Iran have engaged in mutual attacks, leading to contradictory reports regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz and the safety of US naval vessels. Iranian state media asserted that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed and US ships targeted, claims that were subsequently denied by the US military.
No US warships were hit.
The US Central Command (Centcom) stated that no US warships were hit and refuted Iran's assertion of closing the strait, confirming that commercial vessels continued to transit. Centcom announced the conclusion of US strikes against Iran around 3 a.m. MESZ, specifying that military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense positions across the country were targeted.
The Strait of Hormuz remains open to passage.
US President Donald Trump reported being in direct contact with Tehran, suggesting Iran had requested a cessation of hostilities. However, Iranian state media quoted a senior official dismissing Trump's claim as a "false assertion" intended as a "cover" to avoid war. In retaliation for new US attacks, Iran's armed forces reportedly struck Bahrain and Kuwait, targeting a US Navy regional headquarters in Bahrain with kamikaze drones and two US air bases in Kuwait and one in Bahrain, according to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
He [Trump] has been in direct contact with the leadership in Tehran. Iran asked him to end the attacks.
Trump also publicly disclosed what he described as a secret US military operation in the Strait of Hormuz, where millions of barrels of crude oil were allegedly transported unnoticed by Iran. He claimed over 200 tankers navigated the strait unlit, protected by the US Navy, attributing the success to a supposed malfunction in Iran's radar system. Details regarding the timing and specific tankers involved were not provided. Meanwhile, Germany and 21 other nations have urged Iran to cease attacks on individuals within their territories.
This is a false claim and serves as a cover for Trump to avoid a war against Iran.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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