U.S.-Iran War’s 3 Phases Explained: From Khamenei’s Killing To Battle For Strait Of Hormuz

The U.S.-Iran war has entered its fifth month, but the nature of the conflict has changed dramatically. What began with sustained US and Israeli strikes on February 28 moved into a fragile ceasefire and June memorandum, before renewed fighting shifted attention to the Strait of Hormuz. The latest phase combines airstrikes, attacks on commercial shipping, naval pressure and economic leverage over global energy supplies. With the truce now collapsed, oil prices rising and both sides exchanging threats, the conflict has become a wider test of maritime security, regional stability and President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States is winning.