The United States launched military strikes against Iran early Tuesday, July 14, 2026, hours after President Donald Trump announced Washington would “reinstate” a blockade on Iran in the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Tehran swiftly retaliated with attacks targeting U.S. allies across the Middle East and commercial shipping, threatening a return to all-out war.
President Trump stated on Monday, July 13, 2026, that the conflict with Iran was moving “very fast” as U.S. forces proceeded with their strikes. He added that Washington intended to control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime choke point through which a fifth of all traded crude oil and natural gas typically passes in peacetime.
The U.S. military's Central Command confirmed it struck several locations within Iran, specifically targeting “coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites and maritime capabilities.” The military asserted that these strikes would “continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.” Iran acknowledged the strikes but did not immediately provide assessments of casualties or damage.
In response, Iran launched attacks on Bahrain, Jordan, and three tankers traversing the strait. Two of the vessels, the Mombasa and the Al Bahiyah, associated with the United Arab Emirates, were set ablaze for a period. The Emirati Defense Ministry reported that the attack on these tankers resulted in the death of one mariner and wounded eight others, prompting the Emirates to threaten retaliation. Dutch shipping firm Stolt Tankers also reported an attack on its ship, the Stolt Magnesium, off Oman, which sparked a fire in the engine room; however, all mariners aboard were reported safe. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah had “ignored repeated warnings,” noting that Iran has targeted ships using a route through the strait that passes near Oman, outside of its territorial waters.
Hours after the U.S. declared an end to its campaign of strikes, the Iranian city of Bushehr on the Persian Gulf was hit in at least four distinct locations, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. This development raised the possibility that Gulf Arab states were conducting retaliatory attacks against Iran. Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, activated its missile alert sirens three times early Tuesday. Jordan’s military confirmed it intercepted four missiles originating from Iran. Jordan, a host to U.S. forces, has faced attacks from Tehran in recent days.
The escalating tensions prompted the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to issue a warning to airlines, advising against operations in the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as over the Gulf of Oman. EASA's bulletin cited “unpredictable military developments, combined with the possible use of missiles, drones, combat aircraft and air-defense systems,” creating a high risk for civil flights.
President Trump's declaration on social media Monday, “We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE,” outlined a new policy where the U.S. would impose a fee for protecting other ships. This fee, amounting to 20% of the cargo's value, is intended to cover “any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security.” This marks a significant shift from longstanding U.S. policy, where the Navy has historically championed freedom of navigation since the early 19th century, and contradicts recent assurances by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the strait would remain open without tolls. Experts warn that any attempt by either the U.S. or Iran to levy such fees would violate global norms, heighten tensions, and likely cause widespread economic disruption.
The Strait of Hormuz has historically been a critical strategic point, with Iran effectively shutting the passage during past conflicts by attacking and threatening ships, a tactic that proved to be its greatest strategic advantage. This previously sent prices of oil, fertilizer, and other goods soaring. The U.S. has now threatened to reopen the strait by force, though experts suggest this would necessitate a much larger armada, potentially tens of thousands of American ground troops. There is also speculation that President Trump might reverse course, as he has done on previous occasions.
Economically, the price of Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, rose to a one-month high of over $87 in trading Tuesday. While still considerably below the nearly $120 reached at the conflict's peak, this rise threatens to increase costs globally.
Amidst the escalating conflict, regional mediators are working to de-escalate the situation. Two regional officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive diplomatic process, confirmed that Pakistan-led mediation efforts were operating around the clock to reactivate a ceasefire. Separately, Lebanese and Israeli delegations were expected to meet in Rome on Tuesday for U.S.-mediated negotiations. This follows the involvement of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which joined the conflict in support of its ally Iran after the U.S. and Israel launched the war on February 28. Israel responded to Hezbollah's actions with a ground invasion of Lebanon. Last month, Lebanon and Israel had announced a “framework agreement” for Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament, but its implementation has stalled.
