US and Iran Clash as Iran Blockades Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran entered a cycle of severe military escalation on July 12, 2026, following the collapse of an interim ceasefire. Donald Trump declared the end of the agreement, which had been intended to halt fighting that began on February 28. The situation intensified after Iran struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the United States Central Command to launch over 300 strikes against Iranian targets, including coastal cities and military centers in southern Iran.

Iran responded by blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway carrying one-fifth of global oil, causing energy prices to surge. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps stated the waterway would remain closed until U.S. intervention ends. Iranian forces also launched drone and missile strikes against U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to avenge the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Pakistan attempted to mediate the crisis, recalling the June 18 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and subsequent technical talks in Switzerland. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held consultations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Saudi officials, urging both superpowers to exercise maximum restraint. While Dar emphasized diplomacy as the only path to stability, Iranian officials, including Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, asserted that the era of one-sided deals has ended.