Attacks continue over control of Strait of Hormuz as Tehran calls talks “futile”

The Secretary-General of the United Nations has warned of “catastrophic consequences” in the region if fighting resumes.

“A return to full-scale conflict will have catastrophic consequences – for the people of the region, for international peace and security and for the global economy,” António Guterres said in a statement.

A UN official expressed concern over the latest escalation and said the attacks “must stop.”

The price of Brent crude, the international standard, gained 4.7% to $79.59 per barrel, while US crude added 4.8% to $74.85 per barrel.

The prices of both types of crude oil recently fell back to their pre-war levels with Iran, after the two sides reached a temporary deal to end the conflict and ships resumed transporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

However, the United States launched a series of strikes against Iran on Monday morning in response to Iran’s attack on a shipping container ship that burned and left a crew member missing over the weekend. Iran retaliated by targeting countries in the Middle East.

Iran has condemned the latest wave of US attacks on its territory, saying it has “nullified” all diplomatic efforts over the past few months.

The United States is also “causing the return of insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and the disruption of international commercial shipping by openly disrupting Iran’s process of implementing necessary systems in the Strait of Hormuz,” the State Department said in a statement on Sunday.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Monday called for strikes against Bahrain and Oman, saying they destroyed radar systems in Oman and targeted US military bases on the southern outskirts of Manama.

Additionally, the Jordanian military said on Monday it shot down four Iranian missiles across the country, which Tehran said were aimed at retaliating against US strikes.

“Early in the morning today, the air defense intercepted and shot down four missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory,” said an official source from the Jordanian General Staff, adding that there were no reports of injuries or property damage.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it struck dozens of Iranian targets on Sunday.

“The military attacked the Iranian military’s air defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats using US warplanes, naval vessels, air-to-air attack aircraft, and air-to-air attack drones for the first time,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

It added that Iran “does not control” the Strait of Hormuz, in response to Tehran’s earlier claims that the vital waterway had been successfully blocked.