U.S. Airstrikes Hit Iranian Infrastructure as Strait of Hormuz Closes Amid Escalation

The conflict between the United States and Iran has escalated sharply over the last 24 hours. U.S. CENTCOM confirmed fresh cruise missile strikes targeting two railway bridges in northeastern Iran, expanding a military campaign that saw more than 80 targets hit earlier in the week. The escalation follows an incident in the Strait of Hormuz where Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired on the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy. Iran has since declared the strategic waterway, which handles approximately 20% of global oil and LNG trade, closed "until further notice." On the diplomatic front, high-stakes negotiations in Oman have stalled. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed the talks without agreeing to a U.S. demand for a public guarantee of safe passage through the Strait. While President Trump stated that Iranian officials "want to make a deal," he declared the previous ceasefire "over" and has reportedly issued an end-of-day Sunday ultimatum for Iran to apologize for the actions that triggered the current round of hostilities. The regional impact is widening, with Kuwaiti air defenses intercepting incoming drones and missiles, while air raid sirens were reported across Bahrain. Approximately 6,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Hormuz region as the blockade takes hold. Adding to the tension, President Trump hinted at a standing order for retaliation against Iran in the event of an assassination attempt, while Tehran’s new Supreme Leader has vowed personal revenge for his father’s death, further complicating efforts to reach a peaceful resolution.