International

Iran Overnight: Mutual Strikes and Revolutionary Guards Announce Closure of Strait of Hormuz

Tehran and Washington exchanged strikes last night, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation until further notice.

Ahmet Dursun, Mohammad Kara Maryam

12 July 2026 • Update: 12 July 2026

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ANKARA

Ankara / Anadolu

Revolutionary Guards:

- Closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice due to a state of "security instability caused by foreign intervention."

CENTCOM:

- Targeting 140 sites inside Iran during last night's strikes, in response to Iran's targeting of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran and Washington exchanged strikes last night, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation until further notice.

The Revolutionary Guards announced in a statement on Sunday that they targeted two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, saying they "violated the transit rules" imposed by Iran.

It added that one of the ships did not change its course despite warnings, which endangered maritime navigation and prompted Guards forces to fire warning shots.

In turn, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced a new wave of attacks on Iran, in response to Iran's targeting of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on the American platform X, it added that the commercial ship targeted by Iran was flying the flag of Cyprus, and the attack resulted in the death of one of its civilian crew members, and the ship was unable to continue its journey due to a fire and severe damage to the engine room.

It explained that its forces carried out these attacks "on the orders of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, US President Donald Trump."

It indicated that its strikes last night hit about 140 military targets, including missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition depots, communication networks, and coastal surveillance facilities.

In response to these attacks, Iran announced that it targeted US military positions in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan with missiles.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported hearing explosions in areas surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, particularly in the cities of Asaluyeh, Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Chabahar in southern Iran.

The Iranian News Agency (IRNA) also reported that the cities of Mahshahr, Hendijan, and Abadan in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran were subjected to US attacks, without providing details on material and human losses.

In a related context, the naval forces of the Revolutionary Guards announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, due to a state of "security instability caused by foreign intervention."

In a statement, it mentioned that foreign intervention and attempts by ships to sail through "unauthorized routes" in the Strait of Hormuz caused security problems.

The statement indicated that warnings had previously been issued regarding foreign interventions and ships taking routes without permission, noting that some ships ignored these warnings hours earlier and attempted to proceed through "unauthorized routes."

The statement affirmed that no ship will be allowed to pass until the US intervention in the Strait of Hormuz area stops, adding: "Countries that allow the American-Zionist enemy to enter their territory will be held responsible for the repercussions of this intervention."

The Strait of Hormuz region is experiencing security tensions against the backdrop of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026.

Iran insists on the need for coordination with it before ships pass through the waterway located within its territorial waters in the strait, which is one of the most important global energy supply routes.

On Friday, Trump claimed that Iran had requested the resumption of talks with the United States, and that Washington agreed, while he announced the end of the ceasefire between the two sides.

These developments come amid escalating tensions between the two sides, as CENTCOM announced on Thursday morning the execution of new strikes targeting about 90 Iranian military sites, including air defense systems, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and logistical structures on the Iranian coast.

In response, the Revolutionary Guards announced targeting US military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, warning of expanding the scope of their attacks if US strikes continue.

Washington and Tehran had signed, on June 18, a memorandum of understanding following negotiations mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, paving the way for reaching a final agreement.