What happened
United States President Donald Trump warned that the United States would destroy one bridge or one power plant in Iran for every attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The warning came during the 11th consecutive night of United States strikes on Iran, when United States forces targeted aircraft hangars and drone storage sites.
The escalation also spread across West Asia. Iran launched missiles toward a Jordanian city near Israel, air defences were activated over Tehran, and Bahrain and Saudi Arabia issued alerts as the conflict widened.
Background and earlier position
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime chokepoint that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is a central route for global oil and liquefied natural gas movement, so disruption in the strait quickly becomes an energy-security issue.
The escalation follows the collapse of a halt-hostilities arrangement. Iran has avoided striking Israel since hostilities resumed, apparently to reduce the chance of a broader Israeli return to the war.
Related current affairs
- Trump: Will destroy bridge or power plant every time Iran fires at us
- Iran fires back at Trump’s threat to declare Hormuz a U.S. territory
- U.S. ‘taking over’ Strait of Hormuz, says Trump
- Allowing Iran to control Hormuz ‘dangerous precedent’, says Rubio
- Bahrain/Israel? Tebrin using Hormuz as leverage, other nations must ‘step up’: Rubio
- IRGC says two oil tankers explode after hitting mines in Hormuz