Strait of Hormuz Archives - National Times

21 Jul

Tensions Surge as Iran Proclaims ‘Full-Scale War’ with the United States

nishuthapar10 CommentsWorld NewsGeopolitical tension, Iran, Middle East war, Military strikes, Persian Gulf, Pezeshkian, Strait of Hormuz, United States

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Regional security across the Middle East has rapidly deteriorated after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian proclaimed that his nation has entered a "full-scale war" with the United States. The declaration followed an intense night of military clashes, signaling a severe escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Overnight, American military forces executed their tenth straight night of airstrikes against key Iranian targets, focusing on command headquarters, air defense systems, and coastal radar stations. These strikes were carried out in response to a recent series of attacks that caused casualties among American service members. Tehran retaliated by…

19 Jul

US Launches Fresh Airstrikes on Iran Following Troop Deaths, Raising Fears of All-Out War

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAirstrikes, Iran Conflict, IRGC, Middle East crisis, Missile defense, Strait of Hormuz, United States

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): The United States has launched a new wave of intense airstrikes against Iran following the killing of American service members in Jordan. The rapid escalation has pushed both nations closer to an all-out military conflict, effectively dismantling last month's interim ceasefire deal. As the violence intensifies, shipping traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz has ground to a near-total halt, raising global economic concerns. Meanwhile, retaliatory missile fire from Tehran toward Jordan has threatened to pull neighbouring Israel directly into the expanding regional warfare. The US military's Central Command confirmed that the latest aerial campaign specifically targeted…

14 Jul

Iran Pushes Back Against Donald Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Security Plan, Calls 20% Fee ‘Excessive’

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsStrait of Hormuz

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Iran has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump's proposal to impose a 20 per cent charge on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that Tehran—not Washington—has long been responsible for safeguarding the strategically important waterway. The latest war of words unfolded after Trump announced that the United States would assume the role of protecting commercial shipping in the Strait while introducing a levy on vessels to offset the cost of maritime security operations. Responding on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed the US President's claim that America would become the "guardian" of the…

14 Jul

Iranian Missile Strike on UAE Oil Tankers Leaves Indian Sailor Dead, Eight Injured

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsStrait of Hormuz

Dubai (Rajeev Sharma): An Indian crew member was killed and eight others were injured after two UAE-flagged oil tankers were reportedly struck by Iranian cruise missiles while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to the UAE Ministry of Defence. The ministry said the vessels, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were sailing along the southern shipping corridor in Omani territorial waters when the missiles hit. The attack triggered fires on both tankers, causing substantial damage before emergency response teams managed to contain the flames. Officials confirmed that the deceased was an Indian national working aboard the Mombasa. Among the…

13 Jul

Middle East Tensions Escalate as Iran Claims Closure of Strait of Hormuz Following US Airstrikes

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld Newsglobal energy trade, Iran crisis, IRGC, Maritime security, Strait of Hormuz, United States military

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma)— Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the indefinite closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, declaring that the vital maritime choke point will remain shut until the United States halts its military interventions in the West Asia region. The declaration follows severe military escalations over the weekend, including a series of intensive U.S. airstrikes hitting roughly 140 Iranian military sites. While Tehran asserts that no shipping traffic will be permitted through the waterway, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has challenged the blockade, maintaining that naval assets continue to safeguard commercial transit lanes. The administrative decision to…

08 Jul

US Targets Iranian Military Assets Again After Strait of Hormuz Escalation; Tensions Threaten Fragile Ceasefire

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsStrait of Hormuz

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): The United States carried out a fresh wave of military strikes on Iranian positions early Wednesday, saying the action was a direct response to recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation focused on military infrastructure allegedly linked to Iran’s capability to threaten international shipping. The targets included coastal defence systems, radar installations, anti-ship missile launch sites, command centres and dozens of fast attack boats believed to be operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iranian…

27 Jun

US Hits Iranian Defence Facilities After Hormuz Shipping Attack, Tensions Escalate Again

nishuthapar10 CommentsTrending, World NewsIran, Strait of Hormuz, US

Washington/Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Fresh military action by the United States has intensified tensions with Iran after American forces carried out precision strikes on multiple Iranian defence installations in response to an alleged drone attack on a commercial cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said the operation targeted missile storage sites, drone facilities and coastal surveillance radar systems that it believes were linked to the attack on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely. The vessel was reportedly struck while sailing close to the Omani coastline after leaving the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest…

26 Jun

Ship Attack Near Hormuz Casts Shadow Over Ceasefire as UN Reviews Maritime Safety Measures

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsHormuz, Iran, Strait of Hormuz

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): A reported attack on a commercial cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz has reignited concerns over maritime security in the Gulf, prompting the United Nations' shipping agency to temporarily suspend its escort operations while reassessing safety conditions. The incident occurred near the coast of Oman when a merchant vessel reportedly came under attack while navigating the strategically important waterway. Although the ship was not participating in the UN-facilitated escort programme, the episode has raised fresh doubts about the stability of the region despite ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran. The International Maritime Organization…

08 May

Fresh Clashes Near Strait of Hormuz Raise Doubts Over US-Iran Ceasefire

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsStrait of Hormuz

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): The uneasy truce between the United States and Iran came under renewed strain after American forces reportedly launched retaliatory strikes near Iran’s southern coastal region following attacks on US naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. US military officials stated that Iranian missiles, drones and fast-moving boats targeted three American Navy ships patrolling the strategic maritime corridor on Thursday. According to the US Central Command, the attacks were intercepted before causing any damage, after which American forces carried out counterstrikes on Iranian military positions believed to be linked to the operation. The confrontation reportedly involved areas near…

27 Apr

Iran Floats New Plan to Ease Tensions, Seeks Immediate Focus on Strait of Hormuz

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsIran, Strait of Hormuz

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Amid continued uncertainty in West Asia, Iran has reportedly put forward a revised proposal aimed at reducing tensions with the United States, prioritising the reopening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz while postponing nuclear negotiations. The proposal, conveyed through diplomatic channels involving Pakistan, is being viewed as an effort to stabilise the region’s energy supply routes, which have been under strain due to the ongoing conflict involving Israel. While active fighting has subsided following a temporary ceasefire, no formal agreement has been reached to end hostilities. Analysts note that both Washington and Tehran remain deeply divided on…