Middle East crisis live: US launches new wave of strikes on Iran; Tehran says attacks render diplomacy ‘futile’

The United States launched a new round of strikes on Iran on Monday, drawing retaliation as Tehran announced it would close the Strait of Hormuz and fired missiles and drones at regional neighbors including Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Jordan, Oman, and Kuwait. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the "aggressive" US attacks, saying they rendered diplomacy "futile," while the Iranian Revolutionary Guards declared the strategic waterway closed until further notice. Oil prices surged sharply, with Brent crude rising 3.75% to $78.86 per barrel, as the escalation triggered regional alarm and collateral damage across multiple Gulf states.