US launches third round of strikes after Iran announces strait closure

The U.S. military launched a third round of strikes against Iran on Saturday in response to an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command (Centcom).

Iran said it was closing this critical oil trading passage after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) struck Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy for using an “unauthorized route” through the strait.

One crew member is missing and the ship sustained “significant” damage to its engine room, Centcom said in a statement shared on social media.

“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed,” the military command said.

“In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait,” the statement continued. “The strikes are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to Centcom’s statement with a stark warning.

“Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay,” Hegseth said in the social media post.

These new strikes cast a dim view on the prospect of the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to end this months-long conflict. The two sides exchanged fire earlier this week over alleged infractions of a ceasefire agreement.

Ahead of a second round of U.S. strikes on Wednesday, President Trump threatened a “big attack” on Iran and said the framework agreement between the two sides was “over.”

“I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum,” Trump told reporters earlier this week.

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