Iran expands missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, declares Strait of Hormuz closed
Iran launched missile and drone strikes against targets in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states, saying it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States reported hitting over 300 Iranian targets in response.
Iran said it had closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz after firing a warning shot at a vessel it deemed to be on an unauthorised route and subsequently disabling a second ship. The announcement came as Tehran launched missile and drone attacks on U.S. facilities and allied sites across the Gulf, including Qatar – a mediator in cease-fire talks – and the United Arab Emirates, whose air defenses intercepted the projectiles.
The United States Central Command reported that U.S. forces struck 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday and more than 300 over three nights, aiming to reduce Iran’s capacity to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the strait. A U.S. spokesperson said, "Iran does not control the strait. Traffic is flowing."
Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority said passage through the waterway was impossible due to "recent illegal movements of the United States military forces in the region" and would issue permits once stability returned. Qatar advised all vessels, including leisure craft, to suspend activities after three people, including a child, were injured by falling shrapnel. The United Arab Emirates reported missile threats, Bahrain intercepted aerial attacks, Jordan confirmed missile strikes, and Oman reported drone attacks and summoned Iran’s ambassador in protest.
In a separate development, Iran’s top negotiator posted on X that "the era of one-sided deals is OVER" and warned that parties must keep their word or face consequences. Talks in Oman between Iranian and Omani foreign ministers continued, with a Qatari presence, to discuss arrangements for the strait.