US Conducts Third Consecutive Night of Strikes on Iran Amid Hormuz Standoff

The United States has carried out strikes against Iran for a third consecutive night, deepening a confrontation between the two countries that has now spilled into a direct power struggle over control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil shipping routes. President Donald Trump said the United States would impose a 20 percent fee on cargo shipped through the strait, framing it as reimbursement for the cost of securing the waterway against Iranian threats.

Trump described the arrangement as an American-led effort to guarantee safe passage through the strait, asserting that the U.S. would now effectively be responsible for its security. Iran, for its part, has continued to claim its own authority over the waterway, and the two sides have exchanged attacks over the weekend as tensions escalated sharply. A United Nations maritime agency has already voiced opposition to the idea of charging tolls for transit through the strait, adding an international dimension to the dispute.

The standoff marks a significant escalation from an earlier memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries last month, under which Iran had agreed to arrange safe passage for vessels without imposing charges. That arrangement now appears to have unraveled amid the renewed military exchanges, raising fresh concerns among global shipping companies and energy markets about the security of oil flows through the corridor.

The conflict’s ripple effects have already been felt well beyond the region, contributing to higher oil prices and volatility across global stock markets. With no clear resolution in sight, analysts say the situation bears close watching in the days ahead, both for its humanitarian toll and its potential to reshape global energy and shipping dynamics for months to come.