By Ginika Igboke
The United States and Iran exchanged sharp warnings Monday over control of the Strait of Hormuz as fresh military strikes and missile attacks across the Middle East deepened fears that the fragile ceasefire between the two countries could collapse entirely.
The latest escalation followed a weekend of violence that included Iranian attacks on commercial shipping and a new round of U.S. military strikes, highlighting how the strategically vital waterway has become the central point of contention in negotiations aimed at ending months of conflict.
With both governments insisting they hold authority over the strait, diplomatic efforts to secure a permanent peace agreement appear increasingly uncertain.
Strategic Waterway at Center of Conflict
The renewed tensions were triggered after Iran attacked a container ship Sunday in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, prompting additional U.S. military operations.
The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and has long been one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Before the conflict erupted, roughly one-fifth of globally traded crude oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the strait.
Since the war began, commercial shipping has been repeatedly disrupted as Iran targeted merchant vessels and increased military patrols in the region, causing shipping companies to reroute cargo and raising concerns about global energy supplies.
The United States and Iran are now approaching the midpoint of a 60-day interim agreement that was intended to pave the way for comprehensive peace negotiations. Instead of easing tensions, the agreement has been overshadowed by repeated military confrontations and disputes over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that continued escalation could have devastating consequences.
“A return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences,” Guterres said in a statement.
U.S. Launches New Wave of Military Strikes
U.S. Central Command announced Monday that American forces carried out strikes against dozens of military targets inside Iran.
According to the military, the operation targeted air defense systems, radar installations, missile launch facilities, drone equipment, communications infrastructure, and small naval vessels believed to support Iranian operations in the Gulf.
Central Command emphasized that the United States rejects Iran’s claims of exclusive authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade,” the military said in a statement. “Iran does not control it.”
American officials have maintained that freedom of navigation through the strait is essential for international commerce and regional stability.
Iran Rejects U.S. Position
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded forcefully, insisting the waterway falls under Iran’s authority and condemning the U.S. military presence in the region.
“The Strait of Hormuz is our territory, and we will not allow a rogue and child-killing army from the other side of the world to continue its illegal interference in it,” the Guard said.
Iranian leaders have repeatedly argued that the country has the sovereign right to regulate traffic through the strategic passage and have suggested that foreign vessels could eventually be required to pay transit fees.
Those claims have been rejected by the United States and most of the international community, which regard the strait as an international waterway governed by international maritime law.
Missile Alerts Across Gulf Nations
The conflict continued to spill beyond Iran’s borders Monday.
Air raid sirens sounded three separate times in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while Kuwaiti officials reported intercepting incoming hostile projectiles. Authorities in both countries said they were assessing the situation, though no immediate reports of damage or casualties were released.
Jordan’s military also announced that it intercepted four Iranian missiles before they reached their targets.
Military officials said the interceptions resulted in no casualties or property damage.
Jordan hosts U.S. military personnel and has increasingly found itself caught between regional powers as the conflict has expanded.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media acknowledged explosions in multiple locations across the country early Monday and reported that at least one person had been killed in the latest attacks.
Regional Violence Continues to Spread
Iranian military operations on Sunday extended beyond the Strait of Hormuz, affecting Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Oman.
Oman, which has traditionally served as a neutral mediator between Iran and Western governments, summoned an Iranian diplomat to protest attacks affecting its territorial waters.
Elsewhere, in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, drones struck a military base operated by the armed wing of the Kurdistan Freedom Party, an Iranian Kurdish opposition organization.
Rebaz Sharifi, commander of the Kurdistan Militia Corps, said drones targeted the group’s Chamshar base. He did not immediately provide information regarding casualties or damage, and no organization claimed responsibility for the attack.
Escalation Follows Heaviest U.S. Bombing Campaign
The latest confrontation comes after the U.S. military launched one of its largest bombing campaigns of the conflict over the weekend.
According to military officials, approximately 140 targets inside Iran were struck Sunday, including missile launch sites, drone facilities, ammunition depots, communications centers, and military infrastructure.
The operation represented a significantly larger offensive than previous rounds of American strikes.
President Donald Trump praised the operation during a television interview.
“We bombed the hell out of them last night,” Trump said.
Iran responded by expanding missile attacks against countries hosting American military installations while continuing to insist that only Tehran has authority over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also issued a warning to Washington.
“The era of one-sided deals is OVER,” he wrote on social media.
“We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.”
Dispute Over Shipping Continues
Although Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed under its control, the United States maintains that international shipping continues to operate through the region.
American naval forces have increasingly escorted commercial vessels along a southern route near Oman’s coastline to reduce the risk of Iranian interference.
Iran has strongly objected to that strategy and has repeatedly targeted ships using the alternative corridor.
The disruption of maritime traffic has had major economic consequences.
During the height of the conflict, oil prices surged to nearly $120 per barrel before easing as shipping gradually resumed under increased military protection.
Even so, energy markets remain sensitive to any further escalation involving the strait.
Diplomatic Efforts Continue Despite Fighting
Despite the continued military exchanges, international mediators are still attempting to preserve the ceasefire and revive negotiations.
Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, and Oman remain actively involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a lasting peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.
A regional official familiar with the negotiations said mediation efforts continued throughout the weekend as diplomats worked to prevent a complete breakdown of the interim agreement.
Pakistan also confirmed that its foreign minister spoke by telephone with Iran’s top diplomat, urging restraint and calling for both sides to pursue de-escalation.
Iran’s New Supreme Leader Vows Retaliation
Adding another layer of uncertainty, Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first public statement since the funeral of his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The elder Khamenei was killed earlier in the conflict, a development that dramatically altered Iran’s political leadership.
In his statement, Mojtaba Khamenei vowed that Iran would avenge his father’s death and continue resisting foreign pressure.
His remarks have heightened concerns among diplomats that prospects for a negotiated settlement may become increasingly difficult as both sides harden their positions over the future of the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional security.
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