Iran war: US launches fresh wave of strikes
Skip next section What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz? 07/15/2026 July 15, 2026 What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz? The US
Skip next section What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz? 07/15/2026 July 15, 2026 What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz? The US reimposed its blockade on Iran after Tehran's attacks on global shipping in the Strait of Hormuz Image: REUTERS Iran has been demanding that ships use a route that runs near its coastline, while another southern route runs along the coast of Oman. This corridor is protected by the US military. Currently, there are at least 19 US warships in the Arabian Sea, including two aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault vessel with at least 1,000 marines on board.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for military operations in the region, said in a social media post that there are "hundreds of military aircraft operating across the Middle East." In the latest escalation — following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting along the route near Oman — the US has been hitting Iranian port facilities, among other targets, saying the attacks are to degrade Iran's ability to continue attacks on commercial shipping. On Wednesday, the US said it would begin enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports and Iran threatened in response to halt all energy exports from the Middle East.
There had been an improvement in global crude supplies in the weeks following the signing of the interim peace agreement between the US and Iran, with a flurry of tankers taking the opportunity to pass through the strait. Despite the recent escalation, some vessels have still making their way though the strait. Commodity intelligence firm Kpler said that vessels had been transiting before the US blockade came into effect. According data from commodity intelligence Kpler, nine of the 11 vessels that passed through the strait on Tuesday had sailed via the Iranian route.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, through which around 25% of the world maritime traded oil travels through. The vital waterway is the primary export route for oil produced by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain and Iran. Disruption in the strait has also impacted the global fertilizer trade where about a third of global fertilizers travel.
The BriefWire