The United States carried out a new series of strikes on Iran on Monday, following President Donald Trump's declaration that the U.S. is "reinstating" a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. This marks the third consecutive day of American military action against Iran and the fifth instance in the past week.
Iran has maintained its control over the critical waterway, as the escalating exchanges raise concerns about a potential return to open conflict. Previously, the U.S. had stated that the strait should remain open to all vessels without tolls, a status quo that existed before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28.
The U.S. has argued that any attempt by either nation to impose fees on passage through the strait would contravene international norms regarding freedom of navigation and could lead to significant economic disruptions beyond the immediate region.
President Trump commented on the escalating situation, stating, "We're going to hit them very hard tonight and we're going to hit them hard tomorrow — and there's not a damn thing they can do about it." He further added, "They have nothing, other than they have big mouths."