Tehran/Washington, 13 July (H.S.):The escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz has further intensified tensions across West Asia, with the US military launching fresh strikes on southern Iran. Powerful explosions were reported in the key port cities of Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Jask, as well as on Qeshm Island. The latest strikes came a day after US forces reportedly targeted at least 140 locations across Iran. In response, Tehran launched retaliatory attacks targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Jordan.

According to reports by CNN, Al Jazeera and Iran's official IRNA news agency, US President Donald Trump claimed that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for maritime traffic. However, Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority stated that navigation through the strategic waterway would not be permitted until stability and peace are restored in the region.

The latest round of hostilities, which began over the weekend, has significantly heightened diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran.

A spokesperson for the US military said the latest strikes were carried out after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly attacked another commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Several US partner nations, including Kuwait, Oman, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, also reported facing Iranian attacks during the weekend. The United States further claimed that the IRGC has continued firing on commercial shipping in the strategic waterway.

US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said American forces intercepted and destroyed one Iranian cruise missile and one one-way attack drone. He added that the objective of the US strikes was to degrade Iran's military capabilities.

Meanwhile, Khuzestan Deputy Governor Valiollah Hayati said one person was killed and four others injured after a missile struck an irrigation pump station located on farmland in Mahshahr early Sunday morning.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar