The United States has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Iranian military targets after accusing Tehran of attacking a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions in the Gulf.
Iran responded by announcing the closure of the strategic waterway, claiming strikes on a US military base in Jordan, and warning it would respond with "severity" to any further American action.
The latest exchange marks another sharp escalation in a week that has already seen multiple attacks on commercial shipping, raising concerns about the security of one of the world's busiest oil transit routes and the risk of a wider regional conflict.
The US Central Command (Centcom) said it carried out its third round of strikes this week after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) "blatantly attacked" the Cyprus-flagged cargo vessel, MV GFS Galaxy, while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Centcom, the vessel suffered extensive damage after the attack, leaving it unable to continue its voyage.
"The MV GFS Galaxy was unable to continue its journey" because of "significant damage to the engine room," Centcom said, adding that one civilian crew member remained missing.
The UK's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said military authorities informed it that the crew had abandoned the vessel and were safe in a lifeboat.
In response to the attack, the US said it struck 140 Iranian military targets, including missile and drone launch sites, communications infrastructure and coastal surveillance facilities.
"Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed," Centcom said in a statement posted on X.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the warning, writing: "Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay."
Iran acknowledged that several of its military facilities had been targeted, saying the US had struck "a number of coastal bases and telecommunications towers on the southern coast."
Within hours, Tehran announced what it described as the "first phase" of its retaliation, claiming it had launched strikes on the Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan.
The IRGC said the attack destroyed the base's command and control centre as well as hangars housing MQ-9 drones, although there was no immediate independent confirmation of the claim.
Earlier on Sunday, Iranian state media announced that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed until further notice after the IRGC fired a naval cruise missile at a vessel it accused of sailing along an unapproved route.
The Guards said the ship was "hit by warning shots and stopped" after ignoring repeated instructions.
Iran also warned that any further US "aggression" following the closure of the strait would be met with "severity", adding that additional American military bases in the region could become targets.