Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz again after ship collision; America launches new attacks
US-Iran news live: The conflict between the United States and Iran escalated sharply on Sunday when Washington launched a new round of strikes targeting Iran’s coastal energy infrastructure, while Tehran announced the closure of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz “until further notice.” The development came amid rising tensions in the Gulf after Iran intercepted a cargo ship in the strait and the US blamed Tehran for an attack on a commercial ship near Oman, dimming prospects for fresh diplomatic talks.
America started the third round of attack
The US launched its third round of strikes on Iran this week, targeting facilities linked to Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Gulf.
President Donald Trump ordered the attack after Iranian forces reportedly attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). Iranian state media reported explosions at several locations on the country’s southern coast, including the energy and petrochemical hubs of Bushehr and Aslaouyeh.
Explosions were also reported in the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Bandar-e-Deir, as well as in Sirik, a coastal area near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran announces closure of the Strait of Hormuz
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed and said no ships would be allowed to pass until foreign interference ended.
The IRGC said it intercepted a cargo ship after it attempted to cross the waterway on Saturday despite instructions not to do so, according to state-owned IRGC News.
Ship’s crew abandoned ship near Oman
The latest increase came after an incident involving a commercial ship off the coast of Oman.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said the crew of the stricken vessel had abandoned ship after suffering severe damage.
“UKMTO has been informed by military authorities and the ship’s CSO that the crew has abandoned ship and are currently aboard a lifeboat,” it said of the incident, which occurred about 17 kilometers (10 miles) east of Oman.
US Central Command said the ship had sustained significant damage, rendering it unable to continue its voyage. It also said that a civilian member of the crew was missing.
Earlier, Iran had said it had intercepted a ship in the Strait of Hormuz after it allegedly ignored repeated instructions to follow the approved transit route.
UAE responded to missile threat
As tensions escalated in the Gulf region, the United Arab Emirates said its air defense system had been activated in response to the missile threat.
The UAE Defense Ministry said on Sunday that its air defense network was responding to the situation, underscoring concerns that the conflict could escalate beyond the immediate US-Iran theater.
Trump issued a warning
The increase comes days after Trump stepped up his rhetoric against Tehran.
On Friday, he warned Iran that the US would respond forcefully if any threat was made against them, saying he would hit the country with “1000 missiles” if it followed through on threats to kill the US President, adding, “In this case, me!”
The Trump administration has also demanded that Iran publicly guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and commit to avoiding attacks on civilian vessels. Senior US officials warned that Tehran would face consequences if it failed to provide such assurances.
…read more
America started the third round of attack
The US launched its third round of strikes on Iran this week, targeting facilities linked to Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Gulf.
President Donald Trump ordered the attack after Iranian forces reportedly attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). Iranian state media reported explosions at several locations on the country’s southern coast, including the energy and petrochemical hubs of Bushehr and Aslaouyeh.
Explosions were also reported in the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Bandar-e-Deir, as well as in Sirik, a coastal area near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran announces closure of the Strait of Hormuz
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed and said no ships would be allowed to pass until foreign interference ended.
The IRGC said it intercepted a cargo ship after it attempted to cross the waterway on Saturday despite instructions not to do so, according to state-owned IRGC News.
Ship’s crew abandoned ship near Oman
The latest increase came after an incident involving a commercial ship off the coast of Oman.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said the crew of the stricken vessel had abandoned ship after suffering severe damage.
“UKMTO has been informed by military authorities and the ship’s CSO that the crew has abandoned ship and are currently aboard a lifeboat,” it said of the incident, which occurred about 17 kilometers (10 miles) east of Oman.
US Central Command said the ship had sustained significant damage, rendering it unable to continue its voyage. It also said that a civilian member of the crew was missing.
Earlier, Iran had said it had intercepted a ship in the Strait of Hormuz after it allegedly ignored repeated instructions to follow the approved transit route.
UAE responded to missile threat
As tensions escalated in the Gulf region, the United Arab Emirates said its air defense system had been activated in response to the missile threat.
The UAE Defense Ministry said on Sunday that its air defense network was responding to the situation, underscoring concerns that the conflict could escalate beyond the immediate US-Iran theater.
Trump issued a warning
The increase comes days after Trump stepped up his rhetoric against Tehran.
On Friday, he warned Iran that the US would respond forcefully if any threat was made against them, saying he would hit the country with “1000 missiles” if it followed through on threats to kill the US President, adding, “In this case, me!”
The Trump administration has also demanded that Iran publicly guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and commit to avoiding attacks on civilian vessels. Senior US officials warned that Tehran would face consequences if it failed to provide such assurances.
Follow all updates here:
July 12, 2026, 09:20:00 IST
US-Iran news live: Explosions reported in southern Iran after fresh US strikes
US-Iran news live: Multiple explosions were reported in southern Iran on Sunday after the United States announced a new round of strikes targeting the country’s ability to control the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iranian media reports, residents of the cities of Aslouyeh and Bandar Deir in Bushehr province heard multiple explosions shortly before the US announcement. The exact locations of the blasts were not immediately clear, Iranian state media reported.
Iran’s state broadcaster later reported three explosions in Bandar Abbas and three other explosions in the coastal city of Sirik, both located in Hormozgan province. Residents of Minab and Jask also reported hearing multiple explosions on the Hormozgan coast.
An explosion was reported near Konark, in southeastern Iran, and the explosion was heard in nearby Chabahar, according to a correspondent for Iran’s state broadcaster.
The reports came as US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out the latest strikes on President Donald Trump’s orders, escalating tensions despite Iran’s warning against military action linked to closing the Strait of Hormuz.
July 12, 2026, 09:12:44 IST
US-Iran news live: Mojtaba Khamenei vows revenge after father’s assassination
US-Iran news live: Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s son and successor called for retaliation after his father’s assassination on Saturday.
“It is our definite and indisputable duty to take revenge,” Mojtaba Khamenei said in a post on Twitter, signaling Tehran’s intention to respond as tensions in the region continue to rise.
July 12, 2026, 09:07:19 IST
US-Iran news live: Hegseth says Tehran ‘made a bad choice’
US-Iran news live: More than an hour after Iran’s latest move in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States announced a new round of military strikes against the country, further escalating the conflict.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the action in a post on social media, writing: “Iran made a bad choice. Now they pay.” The attacks come amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran following attacks on commercial shipping and renewed threats along the strategic waterway.
