U.S. launches new Iran strikes after IRGC declares Strait of Hormuz "closed"

The U.S. military launched a new round of strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday in response to an IRGC missile attack that left a commercial cargo ship badly damaged.U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes began at 7:15 p.m. ET and marked the third round of U.S. attacks on Iran this week.Why it matters: The renewed exchange of fire further threatens last month's U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU), and comes hours after regional diplomats concluded negotiations aimed at resolving the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.The Trump administration had demanded Friday that Iran publicly guarantee safe passage through the strait, a key U.S. condition for halting the cycle of fighting between the two countries.Instead, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) struck a commercial cargo ship and declared the strait closed until further notice.Driving the news: CENTCOM said in a statement that the Cyprus-flagged container ship was unable to continue its journey after suffering an onboard fire and significant engine-room damage. A civilian crew member is missing.In response, the U.S. launched strikes targeting Iranian air and surface-surveillance radars, missile and drone storage facilities, missile and drone launch sites, and surface-to-air missile launchers, a U.S. official said.The United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait, CENTCOM said.CENTCOM added that Iran had been given yet another opportunity to comply with the MOU after earlier attacks on commercial vessels and had again failed to do so.State of play: The IRGC claimed it had warned several ships not to use what it described as an unauthorized route through the strait, and fired a warning shot after the cargo ship failed to change course.Following this incident ... the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice and until the end of the American interventions in this area, and no vessels will be allowed to pass through it, the IRGC said.Zoom in: Oman proposed fully reopening both shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz during Saturday's talks, according to a diplomat briefed on the negotiations.Under the proposal, the southern route through Omani waters would reopen without any requirement for prior approval, restoring the rules that were in place before the war, the diplomat said.Iran's delegation could not get approve for the proposal in Muscat and took it back to Tehran for further internal discussions, according to the diplomat.The commercial cargo ship struck by the IRGC was transiting the southern route that Oman had proposed reopening without restrictions, according to the U.S. official.This story is breaking news. Please check back for updates.