Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated again, after Washington launched strikes on Iranian targets in response to an attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military said the attacks came after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) hit a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the strategic maritime corridor. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said a civilian crew member was missing and the ship was severely damaged and unable to continue sailing due to a fire on board and damage to the engine room.

According to CENTCOM, the American military operation was carried out on the orders of President Donald Trump, in response to the attack by Iranian forces.

At the same time, Iranian authorities announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important sea routes for transporting oil and gas. The development has raised concerns about the impact it could have on regional security and global energy markets.