US says 'took out' Iran base threatening blocked Hormuz oil route

## Summary
Advertisement World US says 'took out' Iran base threatening blocked Hormuz oil route Iranians began celebrating Eid al-Fitr as the US and Israel coordinated strikes near the Straight of Hormuz Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, that arrived clearing the Strait of Hormuz, is seen at the Mumbai Port in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Mar 12, 2026. (PHOTO: AP/Rafiq Maqbool) 22 Mar 2026 04:20AM Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST TEHRAN: The US military declared on Saturday (Mar 21) it had taken out an Iranian bunker housing weapons threatening oil and gas shipments in the Strait of Hormuz, as thousands of Iranians marked Eid al-Fitr with prayer . Related: Iran's president says immediate cessation of US-Israeli aggression needed to end war More than 20 countries say they want to contribute to efforts for safe passage in Hormuz strait Iranians mark Eid as Tehran reports strike on nuclear plant As consumers count the cost of attacks on energy facilities in the Gulf, including the world's largest gas hub, US President Donald Trump has slammed NATO allies as "cowards" and urged them to secure the strait. Analysts, meanwhile, say Iran's Islamic government has survived the loss of its top leaders and that its strike capacity is proving more resilient than expected, with drones, missiles and launchers apparently able to continue retaliatory strikes for another four to six weeks. "They're showing a lot of resilience that we didn't perhaps expect, that the US didn't expect, when it took this on," Neil Quilliam of Chatham House told the London-based think tank's podcast. "But the IRGC, the Iranian regime, it's deep, it has these roots, this institutional strength ... it's quite remarkable how they've managed to endure." Meanwhile, Tehran marked the end of Ramadan as the war entered its fourth week.

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US says 'took out' Iran base threatening blocked Hormuz oil route
Iranians began celebrating Eid al-Fitr as the US and Israel coordinated strikes near the Straight of Hormuz
Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, that arrived clearing the Strait of Hormuz, is seen at the Mumbai Port in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Mar 12, 2026. (PHOTO: AP/Rafiq Maqbool)
22 Mar 2026 04:20AM
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TEHRAN: The US military declared on Saturday (Mar 21) it had taken out an Iranian bunker housing weapons threatening oil and gas shipments in the Strait of Hormuz, as thousands of
Iranians marked Eid al-Fitr with prayer
.
The US statement appeared designed to calm the concerns of energy markets and of Washington's sceptical international allies, more than 20 of whom issued a statement vowing to back efforts to re-open the key sea lane.
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said US war planes had dropped 5,000-pound bombs on an underground facility on Iran's coast that was storing anti-ship cruise missiles, mobile launchers and other equipment.
"We not only took out the facility, but also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements," Cooper said in a video statement, revealing details of a strike first announced on Tuesday.
A statement from the leaders
of mainly European countries, including the UK, France, Italy and Germany, but also South Korea, Australia, the UAE and Bahrain, condemned the "de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces".
"We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preliminary planning," they said.
Related:
Iran's president says immediate cessation of US-Israeli aggression needed to end war
More than 20 countries say they want to contribute to efforts for safe passage in Hormuz strait
Iranians mark Eid as Tehran reports strike on nuclear plant
As consumers count the cost of attacks on energy facilities in the Gulf, including the world's largest gas hub, US President Donald Trump has slammed NATO allies as "cowards" and urged them to secure the strait.
Iran has choked the channel, through which around a fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes during peacetime.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had only imposed restrictions on vessels from countries involved in attacks against Iran, and would offer assistance to others that stayed out of the conflict.
Iran also denies claims - cited in the 20-country joint statement - that it has deployed mines in the channel.
REMARKABLE ENDURANCE?
The standoff has sent crude oil prices soaring, with a barrel of North Sea Brent crude up more than 50 per cent over the past month and now comfortably more than US$105.
Analysts, meanwhile, say Iran's Islamic government has survived the loss of its top leaders and that its strike capacity is proving more resilient than expected, with drones, missiles and launchers apparently able to continue retaliatory strikes for another four to six weeks.
"They're showing a lot of resilience that we didn't perhaps expect, that the US didn't expect, when it took this on," Neil Quilliam of Chatham House told the London-based think tank's podcast.
"But the IRGC, the Iranian regime, it's deep, it has these roots, this institutional strength ... it's quite remarkable how they've managed to endure."
Meanwhile, Tehran marked the end of Ramadan as the war entered its fourth week.
Iran's supreme leader traditionally leads Eid al-Fitr prayers, but Mojtaba Khamenei, who came to power earlier this month after his father was killed in US-Israeli strikes, has remained out of the public eye.
Instead, the head of the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, attended prayers at central Tehran's Imam Khomeini grand mosque, which was overflowing, with worshippers flooding the streets outside.
The previous evening, airstrikes had darkened the mood as the city celebrated Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
"The atmosphere of the New Year was spreading through the city. Places like Tajrish or Golestan Shahrak, where I went, were full of well-dressed and beautiful women buying flowers," said Farid, an advertising executive, reached by AFP through an online message.
"The Israeli attacks happening exactly at the moment of the New Year were deeply upsetting. The thought that some people could be dying right at the New Year dinner table was painful."
Iran's ally Russian President Vladimir Putin sent greetings to Khamenei, saying

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- The thought that some people could be dying right at the New Year dinner table was painful." Iran's ally Russian President Vladimir Putin sent greetings to Khamenei, saying he "wished the Iranian people strength on overcoming these severe trials and emphasised that during this difficult time, Moscow remained a loyal friend".
- The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, called for "military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident", but the UN watchdog confirmed that no increase in off-site radiation levels had been reported.

### Implications
- Analysts, meanwhile, say Iran's Islamic government has survived the loss of its top leaders and that its strike capacity is proving more resilient than expected, with drones, missiles and launchers apparently able to continue retaliatory strikes for another four to six weeks. "They're showing a lot of resilience that we didn't perhaps expect, that the US didn't expect, when it took this on," Neil Quilliam of Chatham House told the London-based think tank's podcast. "But the IRGC, the Iranian regime, it's deep, it has these roots, this institutional strength ... it's quite remarkable how they've managed to endure." Meanwhile, Tehran marked the end of Ramadan as the war entered its fourth week.
- The thought that some people could be dying right at the New Year dinner table was painful." Iran's ally Russian President Vladimir Putin sent greetings to Khamenei, saying he "wished the Iranian people strength on overcoming these severe trials and emphasised that during this difficult time, Moscow remained a loyal friend".
- Before the war, according to the US Congressional Research Service, Washington was aware of Iranian missiles that could reach 3,000 kilometres.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers iran, hormuz, strait topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1213.