No more illusions of peace in the Middle East. U.S. hits Iran after attacking ships

The Kruche ceasefire around the Strait of Ormuz actually ceased to apply. The United States carried out another wave of military strikes in Iran, responding to attacks on merchant ships on one of the world's most important shipping routes.

U.S. response to attacks in the Ormuz Strait

According to the U.S. Central Command, about 90 Iranian military facilities were struck. These included air defense systems, coast observation measures, missile and drone depots, naval capabilities and logistics infrastructure along the Iranian coast. CENTCOM stated that the purpose of the operation was to limit the possibility of further attacks on commercial shipping in Ormuz Strait. 

It was a continuation of earlier strokes. A day earlier, US forces were supposed to attack over 80 targets, including command systems, coastal radars, anti-shipping capabilities, and over 60 small boats of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Washington indicates it was retaliation for attacks on three merchant ships passing through the strait.

"Private" Corps War

At the heart of the crisis again IRGC, or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is this formation, not the classic diplomatic structures of Tehran, that increasingly gives a tone to events in the Persian Gulf. In practice, this means that the strategic trade route becomes a hostage to Iranian radicals.

It's not just a firefight between the US and Iran anymore. Control over crossing the Strait of Ormuz, also in the area of the Ottoman coast, is at stake. For shipowners and oil exporters, this means one thing: even a short opening of the route does not guarantee safe shipping.

Washington is getting ready for a long confrontation.

Axios reported that the White House is preparing for the possibility of a multi-day or even a multi-week batting exchange with Iran. According to American officials, the scale of further action will depend on whether Tehran will continue to attack merchant ships in the Ormuz Strait.

Calling this state peace is therefore unfounded. The American-Iranian armed conflict continues, only its scale and intensity change. For maritime transport, the most important thing now is not how many targets have been hit in Iran, but whether the crossing of Ormuz will remain viable for commercial vessels.

Oil reacts, shipowners calculate risks

Reuters points out that instability in the Strait region is again translated into oil prices and risk assessment for the entire energy market. Each subsequent incident strengthens fears that this trail may enter the period chronic instability, not a short crisis after one stroke exchange.

For shipowners, this means higher risks, more expensive insurance and greater uncertainty around oil and LNG supplies. In practice, the Ormuz Strait remains one of the most important risk points for commercial shipping today.