US operation in Strait of Hormuz triggers Iranian response as passage remains closed

US military forces conducted a major overnight operation utilizing air, sea, and space assets to transport millions of barrels of crude oil through the disputed Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iranian forces deployed rocket-launched sea mines in the strategic waterway, prompting retaliatory US strikes against Iran's Larak Island.

Tehran subsequently confirmed that the strait "will not be opened" until Washington complies with conditions set in a memorandum of understanding. The demands require an end to military threats, the lifting of port blockades, suspension of energy sanctions, and the unfreezing of Iranian assets. The passage previously handled roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil daily before hostilities began. Analysts warn that both nations face a shrinking window to exert pressure, significantly heightening the risk of further military escalation across the region.

Sources: Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)