TEHRAN / WASHINGTON — The spiraling conflict in West Asia entered a highly volatile and unpredictable phase on Thursday, June 11, 2026, as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic. The dramatic escalation followed a second consecutive night of heavy, precision airstrikes launched by the United States military against Iranian defense assets.
In immediate retaliation, Tehran not only shut down the world’s most critical energy transit choke point but also unleased waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting American military infrastructure across three separate regional nations: Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
US Hits Air Defenses in Southern Iran
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets launched targeted, “self-defense” airstrikes at approximately 5:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 10. The strikes aimed to dismantle Iran’s ability to monitor and threaten international shipping lanes.
Targeted Locations
The Pentagon confirmed that precision munitions successfully decimated critical air defense units, radar systems, and surveillance installations in southern Iran. Massive explosions lit up the night sky across multiple strategic coastal zones:
- The vital port city of Bandar Abbas
- Qeshm Island and Hengam Island
- The southern coastal towns of Sirik and Minab
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the continuity of the operation, warning that American strikes will remain “strong” and “clear” for as long as Iranian aggression persists.
Iran Shuts Down the Strait of Hormuz
Within hours of the American bombardment, the top joint military command of the IRGC issued a terrifying directive via its official channels. Citing severe regional insecurity, Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all traffic, explicitly including commercial cargo ships and oil tankers.
“Effective immediately, the Strait of Hormuz is declared closed… Any vessel attempting to transit the strait will be targeted.”
— IRGC Official Statement
The IRGC Navy quickly claimed it had already executed the directive, asserting that its forces struck two “violating ships” trying to pass through the waterway illegally. This follows a deadly U.S. strike just a day prior on the commercial tanker MT Settebello off the coast of Oman, which resulted in the confirmed deaths of three Indian seafarers.
The US Defies the Closure
The United States firmly rejected Tehran’s authority to blockade an international waterway. CENTCOM explicitly countered the IRGC’s statements on social media, insisting that international commercial ships continue to actively transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz under Western naval monitoring. The Pentagon also categorically denied Iranian state media reports claiming that U.S. warships had been struck during the naval skirmishes.
Regional Spillover: Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain Attacked
As the confrontation erupted past Iran’s borders, the IRGC claimed responsibility for coordinated, multi-state drone and missile attacks targeting U.S. military bases across the Middle East.
Iranian state media reported significant damage to aircraft shelters and infrastructure at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. However, neither Washington nor Amman has officially confirmed any structural damage, with regional defense sources indicating that air defense systems successfully intercepted the majority of incoming threats.
The attacks triggered widespread chaos; Kuwait temporarily grounded all air traffic as a safety precaution, while debris from intercepted drones in Bahrain reportedly fell in residential sectors, causing minor injuries and property damage.
Global Markets Shaken as Oil Prices Surge
The conflicting accounts of control over the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly a fifth of the world’s petroleum passes—sent shockwaves through global energy markets.
Oil prices spiked sharply on Thursday morning as traders weighed the catastrophic prospect of a prolonged, total supply disruption in West Asia. With military maneuvers intensifying and diplomatic channels entirely stalled, international maritime organizations are bracing for an increasingly unpredictable and high-risk environment for global commerce.
