APTOPIX Iran War Strait of Hormuz

Iran says it struck an unmanned U.S. vessel trying to enter the Strait of Hormuz, the latest salvo in a new flare-up of fighting between the two countries. The U.S. dismissed the claim of the purported attack on Sunday as a “total lie." The claim came a day after the U.S. military said it struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to a ballistic missile attack on Navy warships. Experts called it a dangerous escalation after Iran’s previous attacks at sea targeted commercial shipping. With negotiations having collapsed, on-and-off fighting has persisted with both sides trying to inflict military and economic pain.