Iran has dramatically announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any vessel attempting to transit the strategic waterway could be targeted. The declaration came after fresh US strikes on Iranian territory, with Tehran accusing Washington of escalating the conflict. Simultaneously, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have launched retaliatory attacks on key US military installations in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, including airbases and command centers. The latest escalation has raised fears of a wider regional conflict and renewed concerns over global energy supplies flowing through one of the world's most critical shipping routes.