Iran Blocks Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran Crisis Escalates

What Happened The crisis began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran under “Operation Epic Fury,” targeting military facilities, nuclear sites, and leadership positions. The operation resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, marking a dramatic escalation in regional tensions. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officially closed the Strait of Hormuz to Western shipping on March 2, threatening “any ship that passes through it.