In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the operation aims to degrade Iran's capability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian vessels transiting the strategic waterway. It did not disclose the specific targets of the strikes.
Shortly before the announcement, Iranian state media reported at least four powerful explosions near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, close to the Strait of Hormuz.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday urged the United States and Iran to resume dialogue without delay, calling on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could push the situation beyond control. He said the United Nations stands ready to support efforts to reduce tensions, facilitate direct contacts and promote a peaceful resolution.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said in a television interview that the United States was "taking control" of the Strait of Hormuz and that wealthy countries would pay for US efforts to secure the waterway. He accused Iranian negotiators of reversing agreements reached during previous talks and warned of further military action if Tehran violated ceasefire commitments.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran would fulfill its obligations only after the United States fully honored its own commitments. He added that Iran remains in contact with mediators, including Qatar, Oman and Pakistan, to prevent further escalation and keep diplomatic channels open.
Separately, a spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that Tehran would not allow any US involvement in managing the Strait of Hormuz under any circumstances, and said any cooperation between Gulf states and Washington on the issue would be regarded as an act of war.
