Lead:
American military operations against Iran entered their third consecutive night on Monday, with U.S. Central Command — CENTCOM — targeting Iranian air defense systems and military infrastructure. President Donald Trump simultaneously announced that the United States is moving toward asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz and reimposing a comprehensive naval blockade on Iranian ports and oil terminals, dramatically escalating a confrontation with regional and global consequences.
Details:
According to Sabq, CENTCOM confirmed it launched a third consecutive wave of strikes against Iranian military targets beginning at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Time, acting on direct orders from the commander-in-chief. The strikes focused on degrading Iran's capacity to threaten maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Al Yaum separately confirmed the U.S. military's announcement and reported that Iranian state media detected the sound of four explosions near the strait.
Trump declared that the United States will take control of the Strait of Hormuz "by force if necessary" and will collect fees in exchange for guaranteeing passage through the waterway, according to Al Jazirah. He also stated, however, that a diplomatic agreement with Tehran remains possible despite the ongoing military campaign, as reported by Al Yaum. The reimposition of the naval blockade triggered an immediate market reaction: Sabq reported that oil prices surged 9.5 percent in their largest single-day jump in months, while gold fell approximately 3 percent to $3,996.76 per ounce.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Trump's claims over the strait, insisting that Iran was and will remain the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Yaum. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva added an international dimension to the dispute, stating that the United States would become a "pirate" if it imposed a toll on vessels transiting the strait, as reported by Al Yaum. Jordan's armed forces separately announced that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed four missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory, a development confirmed by both Sabq and the Newsd agency. The Kuwaiti military also announced that its forces engaged hostile aerial targets over Kuwaiti airspace.
On the Yemeni front, Al Watan reported that Saudi air defenses intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles targeting the southern region of the kingdom, with coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki confirming the engagement. The U.S. State Department reaffirmed its full support for Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, describing the strategic relationship as stronger than ever, according to Sabq.
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