Strait of Hormuz Archives - National Times

31 Aug

Fresh US-Iran Clash Near Strait of Hormuz Raises Fears of Wider Escalation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsStrait of Hormuz

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): Tensions between the United States and Iran have flared again after American forces struck Iranian rocket launchers positioned near the Strait of Hormuz. The operation marks the first confirmed US military strike against Iran in several weeks and has ended a period of relative calm in the conflict. US Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins said members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard were preparing to launch rockets and place sea mines in the strategic waterway when the American military carried out the attack. The US had recently completed efforts to remove mines from international shipping routes through the strait.…

18 Aug

Strait of Hormuz: Trump Again Suggests US Territory Status Amid Iran War

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsStrait of Hormuz

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump has again suggested that the United States could declare the Strait of Hormuz an American territory, bringing the strategically crucial waterway back into the spotlight as the conflict involving Iran continues. Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday. Referring to the current US presence and control around the strait, he said he viewed the proposal favourably and argued that Washington already exercised substantial control over the route. The comments came as diplomatic efforts to halt the prolonged conflict face difficulties. Negotiations over a possible ceasefire have…

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…