Iran’s parliament has approved a proposal to shut down the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation to recent U.S. airstrikes on three key nuclear facilities within its territory. The strategic move, if implemented, could disrupt nearly 20% of the global oil and gas supply, heightening geopolitical tensions and raising fears of an energy crisis.

The final authority to enforce the closure lies with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. According to Press TV and parliamentary national security commission member Esmail Kosari, the council is currently deliberating the measure.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, is a narrow maritime chokepoint just 21 miles wide at its narrowest. It serves as a vital conduit for energy exports from the Gulf region to international markets. Any disruption to this route would have immediate and significant implications for global energy security.

In response to the developments, the United States has urged China to use its diplomatic influence to dissuade Iran from executing the closure. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that any such move would constitute a major escalation, necessitating a strong international response. Despite the rising tensions, Rubio reiterated that Washington remains open to dialogue with Tehran.

The closure of the Strait would likely send shockwaves through global markets, potentially driving up oil prices and triggering volatility across financial systems. As the international community monitors the situation closely, diplomatic channels—particularly involving China—are expected to play a crucial role in averting further escalation.

A close aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned of swift retaliation against the United States following its airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The threat, published in Iran’s hardline Kayhan newspaper, comes amid surging tensions in the Middle East.

Hossein Shariatmadari, managing editor of Kayhan and a longtime confidant of Khamenei, called for an immediate missile strike on the US naval fleet stationed in Bahrain and the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz to Western vessels. “It is now our turn to act without delay,” he wrote, suggesting coordinated retaliation against American, British, German, and French maritime interests in the region.

The US carried out strikes on Saturday targeting Iran’s key nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan—following heightened hostilities between Israel and Iran. President Donald Trump called the attacks a “spectacular military success” and warned of even greater strikes if Iran does not “seek peace.”

While Khamenei has not yet issued a direct response to the US strikes, his official Telegram account reposted a video from an earlier speech in which he warned the US against entering the Iran-Israel conflict. “The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm Iran will encounter,” Khamenei stated.

Iran’s leadership has consistently framed the US involvement as a grave escalation, with officials cautioning that Tehran’s response will be “decisive and unavoidable.” The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments, could have significant geopolitical and economic ramifications.

With calls for military retaliation growing louder within Tehran’s political circles, the region remains on edge, awaiting the next move in a rapidly evolving conflict.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Sunday that no abnormal radiation levels have been detected off-site following the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In a brief statement posted on social media platform X, the UN nuclear watchdog stated, “The IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time.” It added that further assessments would be provided as more data becomes available.

The confirmation came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces had carried out precision strikes on Iran’s three primary nuclear enrichment sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Speaking from the White House, Trump declared the mission a “spectacular military success” and said the facilities had been “completely and totally obliterated.”

Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran, urging it to pursue peace or face even more devastating attacks in the future. “Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace,” he said, flanked by senior administration officials including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The U.S. action follows over a week of intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran, with rising fears of regional escalation. Satellite imagery released by Maxar Technologies earlier in the week showed heightened activity around Iran’s Fordow facility, adding to global concern.

The IAEA’s reassurance that there is no current radiation threat offers some relief amid fears of environmental fallout, but experts warn that the long-term impact on nuclear infrastructure and geopolitical stability remains to be seen.

President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States conducted targeted airstrikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan—marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran… All planes are safely on their way home.” He praised the operation as a demonstration of unmatched American military capability and added, “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”

While Trump did not confirm the aircraft used, sources told Reuters that the US deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, capable of carrying the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator. This bunker-busting bomb is designed to destroy deeply buried targets like Iran’s fortified Fordow nuclear facility.

Earlier reports indicated that six B-2 bombers had been spotted en route to Guam from Whiteman Air Force Base, hinting at a buildup ahead of the strike.

The attack follows over a week of aerial combat between Israel and Iran that has claimed hundreds of lives and left critical infrastructure in ruins. Israel initiated the conflict with a surprise wave of airstrikes on June 13, targeting Iranian military assets and nuclear facilities.

Despite claims by Tehran that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, both Israel and now the US have acted to prevent what they allege is Iran’s rapid path toward nuclear weaponization.

As global leaders call for restraint, Trump’s announcement signals a high-stakes pivot in American involvement, with widespread implications for regional stability, energy security, and diplomatic negotiations in West Asia.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned recent remarks by India’s Home Minister asserting that the Indus Waters Treaty “will never be restored.” In an official statement issued on Saturday, the Pakistani Foreign Office termed the assertion a “brazen disregard” for the sanctity of international agreements.

“The Indus Waters Treaty is not a political arrangement, but an international treaty with no provision for unilateral action,” said the spokesperson. Islamabad warned that India’s decision to unilaterally suspend or hold the treaty in abeyance was a clear violation of international law and the treaty’s own provisions, calling it a dangerous precedent in inter-state relations.

The statement accused India of attempting to “weaponize water for political ends,” labeling the move irresponsible and contrary to globally accepted norms of responsible state conduct.

Calling on New Delhi to rescind its “unilateral and unlawful stance,” Pakistan reaffirmed its firm commitment to the treaty and vowed to take all necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and entitlements under the agreement.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the sharing of waters from the Indus River system between India and Pakistan. Despite decades of political tension and conflict, the treaty has largely survived as a rare example of sustained bilateral cooperation. The latest developments, however, have cast a shadow over its future amid escalating diplomatic hostility.