Army chief Amir Hatami announced a tiered reward system for citizens who target American military personnel, despite no known US ground forces being deployed inside Iran.

US President Donald Trump stated plans to claim the Strait of Hormuz as American territory, sparking an immediate backlash from Iranian officials and highlighting a steep decline in commercial vessel traffic.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have reached a volatile new phase following the collapse of a ceasefire and rising casualties among American personnel. Military operations are now targeting infrastructure as the conflict spreads across the region.

Global shipping remains at risk as US-Iran hostilities escalate, trapping thousands of seafarers amid a breakdown in ceasefire negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is currently operating under a two-tier maritime system, with vessels divided between a U.S.-supported southern route and an Iranian-controlled northern corridor.

A fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has collapsed following a series of reciprocal military strikes, raising fears of a broader conflict.