WASHINGTON/TEHRAN/MUSCAT/LONDON - US forces on Saturday launched a third round of strikes against Iran this week after a Cyprus-flagged container ship was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command said.

"Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed," the command said in a post on social media platform X.

"In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait," it said.

Explosions rocked several cities in southern Iran, Iran's Press TV reported.

Meanwhile, Iran said that the Strait of Hormuz was closed after a vessel traveling on an unapproved route was struck, warning that any retaliation over the incident would be met with a "severe response."

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"A vessel that had jeopardized maritime security by switching off its systems was struck and brought to a halt," the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement.

As a result of the incident, the strait would remain closed "until further notice" and "until the end of US interference in this region," the statement said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said in an advisory that a container ship caught fire after sustaining damage in an incident off the coast of Oman late Saturday.

Iran: Talks impossible till US retreats from its positions

Iran will not enter negotiations with the United States until Washington backs down from its positions, semi-official Fars news agency reported Saturday, rejecting earlier media reports that Iran had sought such negotiations.

Citing a source close to the Iranian negotiating team, Fars said the start of negotiations would depend on US implementation of the recently signed peace memorandum of understanding, including ending the conflict and securing an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, as well as resolving issues related to maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, among other issues.

Also on Saturday, Iranian media released a written message by Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in which he said the deaths of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others killed in the Israel-Iran conflict in June last year and the US-Israel-Iran conflict in February this year must be avenged.

Taking revenge on the "criminals, whose full list is available", is a demand and will of the Iranian nation and must definitely take place, Mojtaba Khamenei said.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in late February during the opening hours of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. His funeral ceremonies were held over recent days in Iran and Iraq, with his burial taking place on Friday in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad.

In June 2025, Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran's nuclear and military sites, triggering a 12-day conflict, during which the United States bombed Iran's three major nuclear facilities.

In late February this year, joint US-Israeli strikes targeted Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US interests in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.

In mid-June, Iran and the United States signed the MoU aimed at ending the conflict on all fronts, including Lebanon. However, the two sides have traded fresh attacks since Tuesday night, with the United States launching multiple waves of strikes on Iranian targets and Iran striking US military sites in the Gulf region.

Oman, Iran agree to continue talks on Hormuz Strait

In Muscat, Oman and Iran have agreed to continue technical and political talks on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Oman News Agency reported Saturday.

The two sides held talks in the Omani capital on ensuring the safety and freedom of navigation through the strait in light of recent developments, the report said.

They agreed to continue discussions at both the technical and political levels aimed at reaching necessary understandings in accordance with international law, it said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Friday Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi would visit Oman on Saturday for consultations on the Strait of Hormuz.

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The talks came amid heightened tensions following a recent exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran, triggered by alleged Iranian strikes on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Following US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, Tehran tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil trade passes, barring safe passage of Israeli- and US-linked vessels.

Iran and Oman agreed in June to continue discussions through a joint working group between their foreign ministries to reach an understanding on the future management of navigation and related maritime services in the strait.