U.S. Central Command announced on Sunday evening that it had completed a new wave of offensive strikes against Iran, hitting dozens of targets across multiple locations and bringing the three‑day campaign to more than 300 Iranian sites. The latest strikes followed Saturday’s attack on about 140 Iranian military targets, which was itself a response to an assault on the Cyprus‑flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy.
Iran retaliated by claiming to have struck U.S. and allied military facilities throughout the Gulf, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported disabling a second vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates said its air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles and drones, and sirens were sounded in Bahrain with explosions reported in Doha.
Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed “until further notice,” warning that it would remain shut until the end of U.S. interference and that any retaliation would meet a “severe response.” Despite this, President Donald Trump stated that the strait remained open to commercial shipping. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the stance on X, saying, “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.”
Oil markets reacted sharply, with crude prices surging over 3% on Monday as traders priced in the risk of supply disruptions to a waterway that carries roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil. Marine Traffic data indicated only a small number of vessels were currently transiting the strait.
Diplomatic efforts continued behind the scenes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi in Muscat to discuss mechanisms for safe passage, and Oman said negotiations would proceed on both political and technical levels. Iran’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that future transit arrangements should be developed through consultations between the littoral states, taking into account recent developments and the “US‑Zionist regime war.”
The United States maintained that Tehran must guarantee safe passage for commercial shipping before broader talks can advance. The conflict’s spread across the Gulf has heightened concerns over regional security and global energy supplies, adding to inflationary pressures and raising fears of slower global economic growth. Rising fuel prices also pose a political challenge for President Trump ahead of the November congressional elections.
Separately, Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to avenge the killing of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating the country would pursue retaliation regardless of future developments. Trump warned that the U.S. military was prepared to launch a massive response if Iran attempted to assassinate the leader.
(Reporting by Ambar Warrick and Simon Mugo)