The United States launched a second round of airstrikes against Iranian coastal defenses and missile installations near the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command. The strikes came after Washington reinstated a naval blockade of Iranian ports, escalating a conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli attacks in late February. In a statement, Centcom said the operation specifically aimed at military assets that could interfere with commercial shipping through the strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments. Iran has responded by striking American military positions in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, and has threatened to shut additional energy export routes. Tehran’s top negotiator described the situation as an existential war with the United States. The hostilities have disrupted international energy supplies and raised fears of renewed inflation, while diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire remain stalled.