President Donald Trump has dismissed Iran's claim to have closed the strait of Hormuz, as fresh US and Iranian strikes leave a ceasefire agreed last month on the verge of collapse.
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Key facts
- Trump rejected Iranian claims that the strait of Hormuz has been closed.
- US forces said they attacked 140 targets in Iran on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
- Iran struck and disabled a container ship it said had not been approved for transit.
- US Central Command said its targets included missile and drone sites, naval facilities, ammunition depots, communication networks and surveillance locations.
- A ceasefire agreed last month is now at the point of collapse.
Donald Trump has rejected Iranian claims to have closed off the strait of Hormuz, as both the United States and Iran battled for control over the strategic waterway, according to the Guardian. The escalation has left a ceasefire agreed last month at the point of collapse.
US forces said they had attacked 140 targets in Iran on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The strikes followed an incident in which Tehran struck and disabled a container ship in the strait, saying the vessel’s transit had not been approved.
In a statement, US Central Command (Centcom) said its targets had included missile and drone sites, naval facilities, ammunition depots, communication networks and surveillance locations, the Guardian reported.
The exchanges came after almost a week of tit-for-tat attacks that have escalated tensions across the Gulf region. Despite Iran’s assertions that the strait was closed, Trump publicly rejected the claim as both sides continued to contest the waterway.
The strait of Hormuz has been at the center of the dispute, with control over the passage a key point of contention between the two sides. Iran’s decision to strike and disable the container ship marked a sharp escalation in the standoff, prompting the wave of US strikes that followed.
With both governments trading blows over the strait, the ceasefire agreed the previous month now appears to be unraveling, the Guardian reported, raising the prospect of a wider confrontation in the Gulf.
Why it matters
The strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping routes, and any disruption there can affect global energy supplies and trade. A collapsing ceasefire between the US and Iran raises the risk of a broader conflict across the Gulf region.
Frequently asked questions
Did Iran actually close the strait of Hormuz?
Iran claimed to have closed the strait, but Trump rejected that claim as both sides continued to fight for control of the waterway, according to the Guardian.
How many targets did US forces strike?
US forces said they attacked 140 targets in Iran on Saturday night and Sunday morning, according to US Central Command as reported by the Guardian.
What prompted the latest US strikes?
The strikes followed an incident in which Iran struck and disabled a container ship in the strait, saying its transit had not been approved.
Timeline
- Watch: The clash between US and Iran for control of the Strait of Hormuz
BBC World: The BBC's Barbara Plett Usher examines the latest tensions over the key international shipping channel.
- Iran rejects US claim over strait of Hormuz as foreign minister mocks Trump’s vow to charge tolls – Middle East crisis live
The Guardian World: US president says strait will remain open ‘with or without’ Iran and there will be a 20% rate charged on all cargo shipped; Iran’s Abbas Araghchi shot back that Iran would charge a lower rate Trump renews Iran blockade and again threatens to take control of strait of Hormuz Bahra
- Trump: US will ‘take over’ Strait of Hormuz
Al Jazeera: President Donald Trump has said the US will ‘take over’ the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Iran of breaking the deal.
- Trump: U.S. should be reimbursed for guarding Strait of Hormuz
CNBC Top News: The Strait of Hormuz is a major oil-shipping route and the epicenter of the U.S. and Israel's ongoing war with Iran.
- Trump rejects Iran’s strait of Hormuz closure claim as fight for control goes on
The Guardian World: Ceasefire at the point of collapse after almost a week of tit-for-tat exchanges escalate tensions across Gulf region Donald Trump has rejected Iranian claims to have closed off the strait of Hormuz as both sides battled for control over the waterway, leaving a ceasefire agreed la
- Trump rejects Iran’s strait of Hormuz closure claim as battle for control continues
The Guardian World: US and Iranian attacks push ceasefire to point of collapse as tensions escalate across Gulf region Donald Trump has rejected Iranian claims to have closed off the strait of Hormuz, as both sides battled for control over the waterway, leaving a ceasefire agreed last month at the p