WORLD
Iran attacks Gulf countries & closes Strait of Hormuz again following new US strikes
Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Gulf states and closed the Strait of Hormuz after US strikes, risking global energy supplies and Bangladesh imports.
FATEMA BISWAS
Collected
BIONIC READING
In a Nutshell:
- Iran attacked Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar and Oman, and closed the Strait of Hormuz "until further notice," after the US struck roughly 140 Iranian military targets over the week
- The US, Iran's IRGC, and five Gulf states were directly involved; Qatar reported three people wounded, including a child, from intercepted Iranian fire.
- The Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of global oil supply, remains closed; several Gulf governments raised security alerts and urged residents to stay indoors.
Why it Matters
This isn't just about the Middle East. Bangladesh imports roughly 95% of its energy and depends heavily on Gulf supply routes, making this conflict a direct economic risk at home.
- Qatar and the UAE account for 72% of Bangladesh's LNG imports, and with limited storage and procurement flexibility, Bangladesh is especially vulnerable to disruption
- The strait is described as the artery of global trade, hosting 20 percent of global energy flow, meaning any prolonged closure has consequences far beyond the Gulf region itself.
- The US said it struck about 140 military targets, while Iran has vowed a "crushing response" to further attacks, pointing to a conflict still actively escalating rather than winding down.
What We Think
The pattern here is hard to ignore. Ceasefires keep collapsing, and the Strait of Hormuz has opened and closed so many times this year that "closed until further notice" no longer inspires much confidence.
- The MoU signed last month has already broken down, following an earlier ceasefire collapse in June, suggesting agreements between the US and Iran are proving difficult to sustain.
- The strait has been closed and reopened multiple times this year alone, turning a critical global chokepoint into a bargaining chip rather than a stable trade route.
- With Bangladesh, Pakistan and other import-dependent economies already flagged as highly exposed, each fresh closure brings the region closer to a repeat energy shock, not a one-off scare.