US and Iranian forces exchanged heavy missile and drone attacks on Sunday, with Iran targeting US facilities across the Gulf and saying it had again closed the vital Strait of Hormuz.
The escalation has raised fresh uncertainty over a potential US-Iran agreement aimed at reopening the strait and ending the conflict through further negotiations. The latest strikes mark a wider cycle of attacks as Iran seeks to strengthen control over shipping routes through the strategic waterway.
Iran’s recently created Persian Gulf Strait Authority said on Sunday that passage through the strait was not currently possible due to “recent illegal movements of the United States military forces in the region”. Permits would be issued “as soon as stability and calm are restored,” it said.
Iran’s attacks extended to Qatar and the UAE, while Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, and Kuwait also reported drone or missile activity. The U.S. military said it launched further strikes against Iranian targets to reduce threats to commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the strait.
The conflict has disrupted Gulf security and pushed energy prices higher, increasing concerns over global inflation. The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and LNG shipments, remains at the centre of rising tensions.
Iran said it had restricted passage through the waterway, warning vessels not to sail without authorisation. However, the U.S. said it remained committed to protecting freedom of navigation and maintained that shipping traffic was continuing.
The latest developments come as both sides continue a cycle of military action and diplomatic pressure, leaving the future of negotiations uncertain.
