US and Iran exchange strikes amid escalating tensions over Strait of Hormuz
via The Namibian2 min read
The US and Iran have engaged in a new series of strikes, escalating tensions between the two nations. On Sunday evening, the US launched attacks on dozens of Iranian military targets, including air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, and missile and drone capabilities. Iranian state media reported one fatality and four injuries in southwestern Iran following these strikes. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC claimed to have struck US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. These renewed hostilities cast doubt on the future of an interim US-Iran agreement signed in June, which aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and achieve a permanent end to the conflict. Iran maintains it has closed the key waterway, while the US insists it remains open and has stated its forces are prepared to ensure freedom of navigation for commercial shipping. Oil prices saw a jump on Monday, with Brent crude rising by 4.3% to $79.26 a barrel and US-traded oil also increasing by 4.3% to $74.50. This follows a previous wave of US strikes on 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday evening, to which the IRGC responded with attacks on US bases and allies, including Qatar and the UAE. US President Donald Trump declared the Iranian attacks meant the ceasefire was over, while Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of violating the deal, though talks are reportedly continuing.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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