In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, both the United States and Iran claimed to control the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. This followed a weekend of attacks across the Middle East, further threatening diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war. The most recent exchange began with Iran’s attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for international oil and gas trade. Iran has claimed control since the U.S. and Israel started the conflict on February 28. Iran maintains it has the right to manage traffic and potentially impose fees according to a provisional peace agreement reached last month. The U.S. disputes this, citing international law on navigation freedom, and seeks to establish an alternate route outside Iranian control.
Both nations are approaching the midpoint of a 60-day period intended for negotiating a permanent end to the war and addressing Iran’s disputed nuclear program. However, a series of attacks has increased fears of a return to large-scale hostilities, further disrupting the global economy. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that a return to widespread conflict would have catastrophic consequences. On Monday, oil prices rose nearly 5% before retreating. The U.S. crude benchmark, previously peaking at nearly $120 per barrel during the war’s height, traded around $72.92. Market reactions were mixed.
The U.S. Central Command reported on Monday that its forces struck dozens of sites in Iran, including air defense systems, radar sites, missile and drone equipment, and small boats. “The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade,” the U.S. Central Command stated, asserting that Iran does not control it. Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s chief diplomat, also called for the strait to remain open, citing the need to respect the freedom of navigation.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a significant power center within the country’s theocracy, rejected the U.S. statement. They ruled out any foreign military interference in what they consider their territory. “The Strait of Hormuz is our territory, and we will not allow a rogue and child-killing army from across the world to continue its illegal interference in it,” said the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
U.S. ally states in the Arab region reported a new wave of attacks. Missile warning sirens sounded three times on Monday in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, and Kuwait intercepted hostile fire. No damage was reported in either country. Jordan’s military downed four Iranian missiles, resulting in no casualties or material damage. Jordan also hosts U.S. military forces and aircraft.
In Iran, authorities reported attacks in the provinces of Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and Markazi, with at least two deaths reported by the state news agency IRNA. Semi-official Iranian media reported attacks in Sistan and Baluchestan Province on the Gulf of Oman coast. These assaults continued hours after the U.S. concluded its bombings, suggesting Persian Gulf states retaliated against Iran. Also, unclaimed attacks on Iran occurred on Thursday.
Meanwhile, an Iranian Kurdish opposition group’s base in northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region endured drone attacks. Local commander Rebaz Sharifi confirmed an attack on a base but provided no details on casualties or damages. No group immediately claimed responsibility. Iran supports several powerful militias in Iraq.
The focus remains on the Strait of Hormuz’s status. Early Sunday, the U.S. military stated it struck approximately 140 targets, including missile launch sites and drones, ammunition depots, communication equipment, and other sites—a significantly more intense assault compared to two previous bombing rounds over the past week. “We bombed them until they were tired last night,” said U.S. President Donald Trump on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Iran retaliated by targeting countries in the region hosting U.S. military forces and insisted only they control the strait, potentially charging ships for passage.
Sunday’s attacks included Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and even Oman, which shares the strait with Iran. Oman, a historical intermediary between Tehran and the West, summoned an Iranian diplomat to criticize the attack. Iran claimed the strait was closed; however, the U.S. military and President Trump insisted it remained open. Iran’s tight control over the strait has decreased as the U.S. military supports ships traveling via a southern route along Oman’s coast, a new path that has incited repeated Iranian assaults on ships using it. MarineTraffic.com reported weekend traffic through the Oman route fell to minimal levels, indicating operators prioritize perceived security over more direct transit options.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei blamed Washington for the chaos engulfing the Middle East. He accused the U.S. of undermining the memorandum of understanding’s 14 clauses. Baghaei also stated Iran would reject International Atomic Energy Agency visits to Iranian nuclear sites bombed in 2025 by the U.S., where Tehran’s highly enriched uranium reserve is believed to remain.
Mediators continue diplomatic efforts despite setbacks. Last week, President Trump suggested the provisional war agreement was “over.” But ongoing mediation efforts include Pakistan, Qatar, and Egypt striving for a final peace agreement. A regional mediation official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the talks, said efforts to support the ceasefire continued Sunday. Pakistan reported its foreign minister phoned Iran’s chief diplomat, urging “de-escalation” from both parties. Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has stayed out of public view since the war began. On Saturday, he vowed to avenge his father and predecessor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in U.S. and Israeli bombings that triggered the war.
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