Iran Widens Attacks on Gulf States, Declares Strait of Hormuz Closed Amid U.S. Strikes

Iran launched a broad barrage of missile and drone assaults against U.S. facilities in multiple Gulf states on Sunday and declared the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz closed to shipping. The attacks represent a significant escalation in the scope and intensity of the ongoing conflict, threatening a key artery for global energy supplies.

Widespread Military Escalation

Tehran's latest offensive marks a widening of the conflict zone, targeting nations that had not recently been attacked. According to reports, the strikes extended to:

• Qatar: A mediator in ceasefire talks, Qatar reported three injuries from falling shrapnel and said Iran was "fully legally responsible" for the attack.
• United Arab Emirates: The UAE, which had not been targeted since early May, stated its air defenses engaged incoming missiles and drones from Iran.
• Other U.S. Allies: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also claimed to have targeted a U.S. radar site and rocket launchers in Kuwait, aircraft support platforms in Oman, and a command-and-control center in Jordan.

In response, U.S. Central Command said its forces had struck over 300 Iranian military targets over three nights this week, including 140 on Saturday alone. The U.S. objective, it stated, was "to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels."

Conflicting Claims Over Strait of Hormuz

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The status of the Strait of Hormuz, which handled one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the conflict, is now a point of major contention. Iran's newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority announced Sunday that passage was "not currently possible" due to U.S. military movements and that it had disabled a second vessel for using an unauthorized route.

Conversely, the U.S. government asserted that Iran does not control the waterway. The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center maintained that despite a severe security threat, an "expanded" southern route near Oman remained available for traffic. This follows an incident where India reported one of its nationals was missing after an attack on the container ship GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman.

Diplomatic Efforts Falter

The renewed violence casts serious doubt on a fragile interim agreement signed last month, which aimed to reopen the strait and de-escalate the war. U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that he considered the ceasefire over, though he left open the possibility of further talks.

The escalation followed diplomatic discussions in Oman on Saturday between Iranian and Omani officials. However, a defiant message was posted on X by Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, on Sunday: "The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking."