[Anchor]

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has announced it will blockade the Strait of Hormuz again, claiming that vessels are attempting to pass through unauthorized routes. The United States immediately launched retaliatory airstrikes, and Iran responded by attacking neighboring countries where U.S. military bases are located. The conflict between the U.S. and Iran over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is deepening.

Reporter Yu Deok-gi has the story.

[Reporter]

On July 12, local time, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran declared a total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The reason given for the blockade is that the strait has become unstable due to merchant ships, allegedly backed by foreign powers—specifically the U.S.—attempting to pass through unauthorized routes.

The Revolutionary Guard claimed to have attacked two merchant vessels for forcing their way through the strait.

One of them is reported to be a Cyprus-flagged container ship, which reportedly suffered a fire and the disappearance of one crew member following the Iranian attack.

The U.S. immediately launched retaliatory airstrikes targeting military facilities across southern Iran.

This marks the third such strike this week.

The U.S. Central Command stated the reason for the attack, saying, "Iran had another opportunity to comply with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) but has failed to do so again," adding that they are "making them pay a heavy price."

The U.S. Central Command disclosed that it struck approximately 140 targets, including Iranian missile and drone bases, communication networks, and coastal surveillance facilities.

Iranian local media reported a series of explosions across southern Iran, including Qeshm Island, Asaluyeh, Bushehr, and Bandar Abbas.

Iran launched counterattacks targeting U.S. military facilities in the Middle East.

The Iranian military announced that it had conducted drone attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have launched ballistic missile attacks on U.S. air bases in Jordan and Qatar, as well as U.S. aircraft carrier refueling facilities in Oman.

Immediately after the counterattacks, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and head of the Iranian negotiating team, posted on social media, warning the U.S. that "the era of one-sided deals is over" and that they must "either keep their promises or pay the price."

(Video Editing: Kim Byeong-jik)