{"text":[[{"start":8.1,"text":"The US has launched its third round of strikes against Iran this week, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck a commercial ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz and declared the vital waterway closed."}],[{"start":21.35,"text":"American forces struck after the IRGC “blatantly attacked” the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, US Central Command, which oversees Washington’s military operations in the Middle East, said on Saturday."}],[{"start":35.900000000000006,"text":"The IRGC said earlier on Sunday that the strait was closed “until further notice” and until the US ended its interference in the region, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, as cited by Reuters. No vessels would be allowed to transit the vital waterway, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas flowed before the war, the IRGC said."}],[{"start":61.00000000000001,"text":"The IRGC said it had fired a warning shot that struck a vessel attempting to move along an unapproved route in the strait. The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations said it had received a report of an incident 9 nautical miles east of Oman."}],[{"start":75.60000000000001,"text":"The IRGC’s attack on the Galaxy came a day after top US officials issued a fresh demand for Tehran to declare publicly that they would halt attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. "}],[{"start":86.7,"text":"Centcom said that a civilian crew member from the Galaxy was missing, adding that there was a fire and the ship’s engine room had sustained significant damage. "}],[{"start":95.60000000000001,"text":"Washington’s military action this week was in response to Tehran’s attacks on commercial ships that were attempting to transit the strait."}],[{"start":102.9,"text":"“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed,” said Centcom, referring to the agreement signed by the US and Iran extending a ceasefire by 60 days almost a month ago. Tehran agreed to reopen the waterway after the MOU’s signature."}],[{"start":128.25,"text":"“In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait,” Centcom added. US President Donald Trump ordered the strikes, the command said."}],[{"start":143.3,"text":"The US hit more than 160 targets throughout intense strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday, before pivoting back towards attempting negotiations with Iran."}],[{"start":152.85000000000002,"text":"Trump said on Friday that the US had agreed to continue talks with Tehran, but reiterated “in no uncertain terms” for Washington “the Cease Fire is OVER!”"}],[{"start":162.10000000000002,"text":"Senior US officials told reporters on Friday that the talks could advance if Tehran issued a public statement pledging to stop any attacks on vessels in the strategic waterway."}],[{"start":172.45000000000002,"text":"“We are hoping to get to a place where they publicly say that they will stop shooting at ships,” one senior US official said."}],[{"start":180.20000000000002,"text":"“The President has directed us to talk . . . but if they keep shooting at ships or if they engage in any other hostile act, then we’re going to hit them back.” The senior US official added that Iran’s commitment needed to include a pledge for every channel in the strait to be open and free of tolls."}],[{"start":197.20000000000002,"text":"A different senior US official said that Iranian officials had told Washington that the attacks on the ships came from an “errant part of their system that was trying to undermine the deal”, adding that Trump wanted to give some “space” for an agreement but there was “not a lot of time”. "}],[{"start":212.8,"text":"“Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay,” wrote US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on X on Saturday after the American attacks started."}],[{"start":222.10000000000002,"text":"Since the US and Iran signed the agreement, Iranian forces have attacked a number of vessels, including tankers belonging to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, in the chokepoint, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas previously passed. The US has retaliated by launching airstrikes on southern Iran, as both sides accuse the other of violating the ceasefire. "}],[{"start":243.45000000000002,"text":"Iran has insisted that vessels use shipping lanes close to its shoreline as it seeks to maintain a degree of control of the strait, which has become its key source of leverage. But the US has encouraged vessels to transit near the coast of Oman, whose territorial waters flow through the waterway."}],[{"start":267.65000000000003,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1783824537_1123.mp3"}