The United States has conducted strikes on over 100 locations in Iran in response to a missile attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The crew of the container ship had to abandon it while it was on fire. Iran retaliated by targeting sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. The US Central Command reported hitting approximately 140 targets, including missile launch sites, ammunition storage, and communication facilities.
The situation arises amidst ongoing military actions in the Middle East initiated by President Donald Trump earlier this year in collaboration with Israel. Despite being halfway through a 60-day period to negotiate a peace agreement, the conflict shows no signs of abating. Labour minister Sir Chris Bryant expressed concerns about the economic impact globally due to the Gulf crisis, emphasizing the need for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions.
The US emphasized that the recent strikes aimed at reducing Iran’s capacity to harm civilian and commercial vessels in the strait. President Trump declared an end to any interim deal with Iran, boasting about recent military actions. While the US claimed the Strait of Hormuz remained open for shipping, Iran disputed this claim. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned against one-sided agreements, urging adherence to agreements or facing consequences.
In the incident in the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian attack targeted a Cyprus-flagged container ship, resulting in a crew member being missing. The crew, predominantly Indian nationals, were evacuated by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. India strongly condemned the attack and collaborated with Oman on a search and rescue mission, advocating for unrestricted navigation in the strait.
