US launches further strikes on Iran as a renewed standoff over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz intensifies. Overnight Sunday, US forces carried out several rounds of airstrikes targeting large areas across southern and western Iran, including the Qeshm island and the port city Bandar Abbas, located near the strait. Missile alert sirens also sounded at dawn Monday in Bahrain, home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet. Iranian state media reported the strikes, citing the targeted regions include the Qeshm island and Bandar Abbas. They also stated that the strikes had hit the oil-rich Khuzestan province, bordering Iraq. In response, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Saeed Khatibzadeh, accused the US of escalating tensions without justification, and warned that Iran is ready to respond. The United States Central Command confirmed the operation, stating that the aim is to deter Iran's 'aggressive' behavior in the region. The renewed standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies, follows a series of diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran that have largely failed to ease tensions. The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is the world's busiest oil chokepoint, and Iran has repeatedly threatened to close it unless its interests are respected. Amidst the heightened tension, analysts point to the recent US decision to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran, which Tehran sees as a significant escalation of the standoff. The move has led Iran to suspend its voluntary implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal. The deal limits Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. However, the deal has been under threat since the US withdrew in 2018. Iran's president, Ebrahim Raisi, has vowed to revive the nuclear deal if the EU can provide a convincing proposal. The ongoing standoff highlights the complex dynamic between the US and Iran, with the fate of the nuclear deal hanging in the balance. As the situation unfolds, Iran's leadership has called for regional unity in the face of perceived US aggression. The escalating tensions in the region have also prompted calls from international community leaders for calm and restraint. As diplomatic efforts continue, the world waits with bated breath for the next move from the US and Iran in this intensifying standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.