US strikes Iran again as Tehran warns of ‘existential war’ with America

CAIRO/DUBAI - The US struck Iran’s coastal defences and missile sites on July 15 after reimposing a naval blockade of its ports, while Iran threatened to shut off more regional energy exports, saying it was engaged in an “existential war” with America.The latest escalation comes days after a fragile truce collapsed, raising the spectre of a return to full-scale war, though analysts generally see that as less likely.Hostilities have intensified since Iran said late on July 11 it had closed the Strait of Hormuz.Military operations are also keeping ships from transiting the vital artery, which carried about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the war.Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, closed at a one-month high at US$84.95 a barrel on July 15.US Central Command said the