TEHRAN — Tehran announced it was closing the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday and launched missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours hosting American assets, in retaliation for new US strikes following an attack by Iranian forces on a merchant vessel that was abandoned in flames by its crew.
Sirens and explosions were heard in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, AFP journalists and local authorities reported, the latest escalation to undermine an interim agreement between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the US-Israel war on Iran.
The Pentagon said it had struck Iran early Sunday after the Revolutionary Guards fired on a Greek-administered Southern Cyprus-registered container ship they said was sailing an “unauthorised route” through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Guards then said they had hit a second vessel, according to state media, accusing it of “violating regulations”.
Iranian media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Jask and on Qeshm Island as well as in Khuzestan province, which borders Iraq, with no immediate reports of casualties.
Hours later, air raid sirens sounded over Bahrain, while the United Arab Emirates and Qatar said they intercepted missile attacks, with Doha saying three people were injured.
Kuwait also said it was working to intercept an attack, while Jordan said three Iranian missiles fell on its territory.
Iran’s Guards said they destroyed “the logistical support centres for naval vessels and the refuelling facilities for US aircraft carriers at the port of Duqm in Oman”.
‘Now they pay’
