On July 12, the Strait of Hormuz became the focal point of a rapid military escalation. State-aligned outlets led with IRGC announcements of closing the strait and striking a commercial vessel, later claiming a second vessel hit and attacks on US drone nests in Jordan. Foreign-based media reported US Central Command launching a third wave of strikes on 140 Iranian military targets in response. By afternoon, a direct contradiction emerged: Iran's PGSA declared traffic halted, while Trump and CENTCOM insisted the strait remained open. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham, a vocal Iran hawk, was celebrated by state media and mourned abroad, with Trump ordering flags at half-staff. Explosions were reported in southern Iran, Kuwait, and Qatar, with regional air raid sirens. Oman summoned Iran's ambassador after IRGC strikes on its territory. The day saw a split narrative: regime media touted IRGC successes and the strait's closure, while foreign outlets focused on US retaliation and regional condemnation.