West Asia war LIVE: White House signals Trump is weighing new strikes on Iran
Fresh strikes and attacks were reported in the ongoing West Asia conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, with an earlier ceasefire arrangement having broken down
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported striking two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz
Kuwait reported intercepting drones amid the escalation
No new US strikes on Iranian territory were confirmed overnight, though further military action remained under consideration
The events underscore renewed instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil and gas transit route
Strait of Hormuz — Strategic Chokepoint
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage, roughly 33 km wide at its narrowest point, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the open ocean. It is the only sea route out of the Persian Gulf and is considered the world's single most important oil transit chokepoint.
Key Details
- Approximately one-fifth of the world's total petroleum liquids and a similar share of global LNG trade transit through the strait daily
- A large majority of this oil flow (roughly 80%) moves onward to Asian markets
- Roughly half of India's total crude oil imports and a growing share of its LNG pass through this route, making it a direct energy-security concern for India
- The strait borders Iran to the north and Oman/UAE to the south, giving Iran the ability to threaten shipping through the passage during periods of conflict
Reported strikes on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and drone interceptions by Kuwait directly threaten this chokepoint, with implications for global oil prices, shipping insurance costs, and India's energy import security.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
The IRGC is a parallel military organisation established in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution, distinct from Iran's regular armed forces, and reports directly to Iran's Supreme Leader. It maintains its own ground, naval, and air branches (the air branch oversees Iran's missile programme) and controls the Quds Force, which supports allied groups across the region.
Key Details
- The IRGC's naval branch operates in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz and has been involved in confrontations with commercial shipping during periods of tension with the US and its allies
- The United States designated the IRGC (including the Quds Force) a Foreign Terrorist Organization in April 2019 — the first time the US designated part of another government as an FTO
- The European Union added the IRGC to its terrorist list in early 2026, and the United Kingdom designated it under its National Security (State Threats) Act, 2026
The IRGC, rather than Iran's regular navy, is the reported actor behind the tanker strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting its distinct command structure and its established role in confrontations at this chokepoint.
Iran's Nuclear Programme and the JCPOA Framework
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), concluded in July 2015 and endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231, was the multilateral framework under which Iran accepted nuclear-related restrictions in exchange for sanctions relief. The framework unravelled over the following decade and its associated UN restrictions have since lapsed.
Key Details
- JCPOA signatories: China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, and Iran
- The US withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions; Iran subsequently began scaling back compliance
- UNSC Resolution 2231 (2015) included a ten-year "snapback" mechanism for reimposing UN sanctions; Iran has stated that Resolution 2231's restrictions have formally lapsed
- The current escalation involving strikes on Iranian territory and Iranian retaliation in the Gulf follows from this longer breakdown of the multilateral nuclear framework
The collapse of the JCPOA-era restraint mechanism forms the diplomatic backdrop against which the present military escalation — including strikes and the threat of further strikes — is occurring.
- Strait of Hormuz width at narrowest point: approximately 33 km; length approximately 167 km
- Share of global petroleum liquids transiting the strait: approximately 20% daily
- Share of India's crude oil imports transiting the strait: roughly 50%
- IRGC designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US: April 2019
- JCPOA concluded: July 14, 2015; endorsed by UNSC Resolution 2231: July 20, 2015
- US withdrawal from JCPOA: May 2018
- EU designation of IRGC as terrorist organisation: January 2026; UK designation: July 2026