Iran’s parliament voted to approve the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz after the US attacked Iran’s nuclear sites, state media reported Sunday.
The decision still requires approval from the Islamic Republic’s Supreme National Security Council. Around one-fifth of the world’s total oil and gas consumption transits through the strait.
Maersk vessels continue to sail through the Strait of Hormuz following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities overnight, though the company is ready to re-evaluate this based on available information, Reuters reports quoting a statement from the company.
“We will continuously monitor the security risk to our specific vessels in the region and are ready to take operational actions as needed,” the Danish shipping company said.
The United States has launched a large-scale military operation against Iran, claiming significant damage to its nuclear infrastructure.
The US military strikes on three sites believed to be connected to Iran’s nuclear programme were “not about regime change”, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday.
Hegseth told a Pentagon press briefing that the US attacks had “devastated” what he alleged were the Islamic Republic’s “nuclear ambitions”.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes were the result of months of careful planning and warned Iran against any retaliation, promising a response “far greater than what was witnessed tonight.”
Hegseth emphasized that the operation, though powerful, avoided targeting Iranian troops or civilians. “This was a calculated mission to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” he said.
General Dan Cane, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, detailed the scale of the attack, stating that over 125 US military aircraft participated in the mission.
The assault, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” involved B-2 stealth bombers that flew 18 hours from US soil, supported by submarine-launched missiles and complex decoy maneuvers.
“There were no indications of Iranian defenses responding,” Cane noted. “Their fighters remained grounded, and missile systems appeared blind to our presence.”
The Pentagon confirmed the strike was executed across multiple military domains with precision, using high-speed suppression fire to ensure B-2s reached their targets unharmed.
As tensions soar, Secretary Hegseth issued a stern warning to Tehran: “Any counterstrike will be met with overwhelming force.”
US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that Trump now hopes to pursue a diplomatic solution.
“We do not want to protract this or build this out any more than it’s already been built out. We want to end their nuclear program,” Vance said, speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.”
“We want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement here,” he added.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has strongly condemned the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, declaring them a violation of international law and a crossing of Iran’s “final red line.”
Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, Araqchi said that Iran reserves the right to retaliate in self-defence and warned that the US will be held responsible for the consequences.
He criticised Washington for launching attacks during ongoing diplomatic efforts, saying, “Diplomacy should always remain open, but the US chose aggression in the middle of talks.”
Araqchi called on the international community to prevent further escalation, urging the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session.
Araqchi announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, calling Russia a “trusted friend” and requesting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to investigate the U.S. attacks.
He accused President Trump of betraying both Iran and the American people by launching the strike and said the assault on peaceful nuclear sites was “unforgivable.” Araqchi also condemned Israel’s role, describing it as a genocidal regime with malicious intent.
Iran, he emphasized, would not compromise on its sovereignty, national interests, or independence, and retains all options to respond. “It is clear now,” he said, “that the U.S. and Israel only understand the language of force.”
Araqchi further stated that Iran is still assessing the damage caused by the strikes and demanded that the United Nations and the IAEA hold the US accountable for its “criminal act.”
Iran has launched a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel early Sunday morning in retaliation for recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, leaving several people injured and causing widespread damage.
According to Arab media, air raid sirens sounded across Israel, including in Tel Aviv and Haifa, prompting the activation of the country’s air defense systems. Explosions were reportedly heard in multiple Israeli cities, and Iranian missiles were confirmed to have struck various locations in Haifa.
Iranian state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes in response to U.S. attacks on the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. The IRGC stated that 14 strategic Israeli targets were hit in Tel Aviv and Haifa, including military software offices, power plants, an airbase, the Israeli Cyber Command, and the headquarters of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
