US Launches New Airstrikes on Iran After Vessel Attack; Tehran Retaliates

The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes against Iran early Sunday, responding to an earlier Iranian attack that damaged a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz and forced its crew to abandon the vessel.

In retaliation, Tehran launched attacks against several Persian Gulf nations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, as well as Jordan. This escalation of violence raises significant concerns about the prospects for a permanent end to the war, which commenced on February 28.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit route for oil and natural gas, has become a focal point of the conflict. Repeated clashes in the waterway over the past week have placed ongoing negotiations in danger of collapsing.

The U.S. Central Command reported striking approximately 140 targets, including missile and drone launch sites, ammunition depots, and communication equipment. They stated these intensified attacks would degrade Iran's ability to threaten maritime traffic. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on social media, "Iran made a bad decision. Now they pay for it."

Iranian state media reported a naval member died in the early morning attack. Iran asserted its exclusive right to control the Strait and potentially charge vessels for passage. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran's Parliament speaker, declared, "The era of unilateral agreements is OVER." He added, "We told them: fulfill your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking at the door."

An interim ceasefire agreed upon on June 17, intended to lead to a permanent end to the war, was declared "over" by U.S. President Donald Trump three days prior. Negotiations have been repeatedly disrupted by violence, with the U.S. launching three rounds of airstrikes in the past week in response to Iranian attacks on ships navigating the Strait.