US military renews strikes on Iran as tankers attacked in Strait of Hormuz

The United States military launched a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump, directing the military action, vowed to hit Iran "very hard" and announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping, declaring the U.S. would become "THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT."

“

Iran would be hit “very hard tonight, and we’re going to hit them hard tomorrow. And there’s not a damn thing they can do about it.”

Amid the U.S. strikes, Iranian cruise missiles struck two Emirati oil tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, in Omani territorial waters, injuring eight crew members. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency also reported a tanker hit by an unknown projectile. Bahrain's air defense systems intercepted and destroyed Iranian aerial attacks over the kingdom.

“

The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE

Iran's top joint military command rejected the U.S. role in the waterway, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi asserting Tehran's eternal guardianship of the strait. Iranian media reported explosions in multiple port cities and islands, with IRNA citing a provincial security official stating four people were wounded in Khuzestan province by U.S. projectiles. The U.S. Central Command confirmed the strikes were aimed at Iranian capabilities in the strait.

“

The USA. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT’, but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped.