U.S. Central Command announced on July 12 that it began launching early‑morning strikes against Iranian military sites. The operation, directed by President Donald Trump, aimed to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The strikes marked the latest escalation in a conflict that began on July 7. Three rounds of attacks have taken place in the past week, including a Saturday night strike that hit about 140 Iranian targets such as drone and missile facilities, ammunition depots and naval installations.

Iranian state media reported explosions near the Strait of Hormuz, including Sirik, Qeshm Island, Jask and the area west of Bandar Abbas, but no civilian casualties have been confirmed.

Iran has responded with attacks on U.S. military sites in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. The exchange of fire has renewed scrutiny of a memorandum of understanding signed last month that called for an immediate and permanent halt to hostilities and for Iran to allow commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days without fees.

Since the war began in February, fuel prices have risen as Iran restricted shipping in the waterway.

U.S. officials said the strikes were a response to drone attacks on the Cyprus‑registered ship M/V GFS Galaxy, which left a crew member missing. They added that Iran’s drone strikes violate the memorandum.

Iranian authorities said they have closed the Strait of Hormuz to traffic, while U.S. Central Command said traffic continues to flow.

United Nations Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres urged both sides on Sunday to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation, while his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called for the continuation of negotiations and the restoration of safe navigation.

An estimated 6,000 seafarers remain stuck in the Strait, according to UN estimates.

Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei wrote to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, urging nations to stop allowing the United States to use their territories as launchpads for aggression. He said Iran’s actions are a legitimate exercise of self‑defence under international law and that U.S. military bases in the region are considered legitimate targets.

The latest tit‑for‑tat attacks have raised concerns that the regional war could reignite, but the memorandum’s future and the status of navigation in the Strait remain unresolved.