Escalating tensions and military strikes between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz
On April 7, 2026, amid an escalating crisis regarding the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum threatening to destroy Iranian energy infrastructure and bridges if Tehran did not meet specific demands by 03:00 Wednesday (Greece time). In response, Iran officially claimed to have severed direct and indirect diplomatic communications with the US, though some reports suggest indirect back-channel talks continue. US and Israeli forces have reportedly launched strikes against over 50 military and infrastructure targets on Kharg Island and other locations, resulting in approximately 20 deaths, including two children. Iran’s UN representative Amir Saeid Iravani condemned a US-backed draft resolution at the UN Security Council, which was vetoed by China and Russia, labeling it as biased and an infringement on Iran's self-defense rights. Meanwhile, the EU has urged restraint, warning that targeting civil infrastructure could constitute a war crime. Iranian authorities organized civilians to form human chains around power plants in a symbolic protest. Amid the conflict, global oil prices have spiked, and there are concerns regarding the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if regional escalation continues.