Iran announced closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after the US launched a second wave of airstrikes on Iranian targets, with strikes hitting ports and cities including Karaj. The closure is a major escalation in the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran that began in late February 2026 — roughly one-third of global oil shipments pass through the Strait, so a sustained blockade would disrupt energy markets worldwide and raise fuel costs for importing nations. Iran has also launched retaliatory strikes on US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, and both sides are indicating further strikes may follow if negotiations remain stalled.