US and Iran trade fire as tensions rise over Strait of Hormuz
Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated following a series of military strikes and counter-strikes, including attacks on US bases in the Middle East. The conflict has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a subsequent spike in global oil prices.
Why it matters
The potential disruption of oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz poses a significant threat to global energy security and economic stability.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman.
The US launched a new attack on Iran on Sunday evening, continuing days of strikes between the two countries. Iranian state media reported that the strikes killed one person in southwestern Iran, while four were injured.
Within hours of the fresh US strikes, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had struck US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain.
The escalating attacks, which cast doubt over the future of the interim US-Iran agreement signed in June, come amid conflicting claims over whether the Strait of Hormuz is open.
Iran says it has closed the key waterway until further notice, while the US insists it is open.
On Sunday evening, Centcom announced another round of strikes against Iran, which it said started at 17:00 ET (22:00 BST).
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