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The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that it had struck two merchant vessels in the ever‑volatile Strait of Hormuz after a new wave of U.S. military strikes against Iranian targets.
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The U.S. launched the attacks following President Donald Trump’s warning that Iran would be hit hard again after it was deemed to have taken too long to negotiate a peace deal. Centcom described the operation as a self‑defence strike in response to ongoing Iranian aggression.
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Iranian media reported explosions on Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas and Sirik, and declared the Strait of Hormuz completely closed to all types of vessels. The U.S. denied this, saying commercial shipping remained open.
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Brent crude rose sharply after the strike announcement, leaping past $95 a barrel as markets feared wider fuel supply disruption.
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In a broader context, a ceasefire agreed in April between the U.S. and Iran has been fragile, with both sides exchanging intermittent attacks while diplomatic talks fizzle. A recent downing of a U.S. helicopter by Iranian forces last week and a renewed U.S. strike on Iranian bases intensified the conflict.
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UN Secretary‑General António Guterres warned that the situation could deepen into a broader crisis, urging all parties to seek a diplomatic settlement and halt further attacks.
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The latest strikes mark the latest chapter in a tense standoff that could reverberate across global markets and the regional balance of power.
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