US retaliatory strikes underway: The US military has launched air strikes against targets in Iran following an attack on a merchant ship navigating the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Strait of Hormuz shut down: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has officially declared the strategic waterway closed after firing a warning shot at a vessel.
Diplomacy interrupted: The sudden military action hit just as international mediators were actively racing to revive talks.
Nuclear negotiations frozen: US officials have made it clear that any progress on nuclear weapons talks is entirely paused until the shipping strait is secure.
Supreme Leader mystery deepens: While Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first written statement on Saturday since his predecessor’s funeral, intense speculation grows as he has still not made a public appearance.