Iran said on Sunday that it struck an unmanned US vessel attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz, marking the latest escalation in renewed fighting between Tehran and Washington.
The US did not immediately
confirm the claimed attack. Iran's announcement came a day after the US military said its forces had struck three Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for a missile attack on US Navy warships.
Fighting Persists Despite Ceasefire
The war began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb 28. Although a ceasefire agreement was announced in June, intermittent fighting has continued as both sides seek to exert military and economic pressure and negotiations have collapsed.
The US and Iran resumed attacks last week after about a month of relative calm. The Strait of Hormuz and Iranian communities along the strategic waterway have again come under attack.
At least five people were killed earlier in the week during a US bombardment of southern Iran.
US Combines Military And Financial Pressure
The Trump administration appears to be pursuing a two-pronged strategy, responding militarily to attacks on the Strait of Hormuz while targeting foreign financial institutions that handle Iranian funds.
Tehran's new hard-line senior leadership, however, has signalled a willingness to hold its ground after enduring decades of sanctions.
Iran has developed ways over the years to circumvent sanctions and, more recently, the US blockade to continue selling oil and ease mounting economic pressure. Its efforts rely partly on a shadow fleet used to transport Iranian oil to buyers.
Nuclear Negotiations Remain Stalled
Iran's nuclear programme, one of the issues that contributed to the outbreak of the war, was expected to be addressed through negotiations. However, the talks collapsed soon after the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in mid-June.
Diplomats say the US, Britain, France and Germany want Iran referred to the UN Security Council over its failure to comply with nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
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Strait Of Hormuz Emerges As Tehran's Leverage
With nuclear negotiations stalled, Tehran's leverage has increasingly centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil and natural gas shipments.
The strait was regarded as an international waterway before the war began and has again become a major focus of the confrontation between Iran and the US.
