US resumes Iran ports blockade as Gulf attacks continue: What’s the latest?

Lead

The United States has reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports, less than a month after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to end four months of fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The move follows a series of Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the waterway, which have brought the US and Iran back to the brink of all-out war.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it concluded its latest wave of attacks on Iran in response to the Iranian strikes on ships in the strait, as reported by Al Jazeera. US President Donald Trump ordered CENTCOM to "resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on July 14 at 4 p.m. ET," according to the Jerusalem Post.

The blockade was first imposed in mid-April and lifted in mid-June, a day after the signing of the interim deal. The deal set a 60-day timeline to negotiate an agreement on Iran's nuclear program, but talks have stalled as fighting over the strait has intensified.

Coverage comparison

Reporting from multiple outlets confirms the US has reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports, with some describing it as a "reinforcement" of the earlier blockade. Al Jazeera reported that the US has reinforced its naval blockade on Iran's southern ports, while France 24 noted the US first imposed the blockade in mid-April and then lifted it in mid-June.

The Jerusalem Post framed the move as a "counter-blockade" renewed by CENTCOM following several days of conflict. Deutsche Welle reported that US forces "disabled" a merchant vessel that attempted to circumvent the blockade, with US Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins telling the Associated Press that the M/T Lavine was "disabled" in the Gulf of Oman on Friday after attempting to circumvent the blockade four times.

Another incident involved the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma, which The Guardian reported was disabled after US aircraft fired missiles into its smokestack as it attempted to sail toward an Iranian port. CENTCOM said the vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the blockade.

Key claims

Blockade reinstated: The US has reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports, with multiple sources confirming the move took effect July 14. The blockade was initially implemented from April 13 to June 18, during which CENTCOM redirected more than 140 compliant vessels, disabled nine non-compliant ships, and allowed over 50 commercial vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Iranian attacks on ships: Tehran attacked a number of US-allied ships last week, according to the Jerusalem Post. France 24 reported that Iran's attacks on commercial ships on the Strait of Hormuz led to the US reimposition of the blockade. The Guardian noted that Iranian attacks on ships culminated in several attacks on July 6 and 7, which led to the recent US strikes.

US military strikes: CENTCOM said it launched an additional round of attacks against Iran, hitting "dozens of military targets" near the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal areas, as reported by Al Jazeera. The strikes targeted "coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites and maritime capabilities." The US has been carrying out strikes in Iran for nine days, including attacks on bridges and tunnels near the port city of Bandar Abbas, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Blockade enforcement: US forces have disabled at least two vessels attempting to breach the blockade. Deutsche Welle reported that the M/T Lavine was warned but did not comply with US commands, leading US forces to fire into the ship's engine room. The Guardian reported that US aircraft fired hellfire missiles into the smokestack of the M/T Belma, disabling the vessel.

Iranian response: Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said the US was seeking to prevent Tehran from exercising what he described as "effective sovereignty" over the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by France 24. Al Jazeera reported that Iran says its control over the Strait of Hormuz will not be compromised. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks on US military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan overnight.

Economic impact: Iran immediately began exporting tens of millions of barrels of crude oil after the blockade was lifted in June, much of it stored on supertankers anchored close to its oil terminals, as reported by Al Jazeera. Energy analyst Hamidreza Shokouhi told Al Jazeera that the new blockade means at least 1.5 million barrels per day of Iranian oil exports will be taken off the market, contributing to pushing oil prices up to around $90 per barrel. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the previous blockade drastically reduced Iranian crude exports, with parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf saying "we did not export even one barrel" during the blockade.

Perspectives

US Central Command: CENTCOM said it is enforcing the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports, while continuing to support traffic flow through regional waters for vessels not violating the blockade. The US military said it disabled the M/T Belma and M/T Lavine after they ignored warnings.

Iranian government: Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the US was seeking to prevent Tehran from exercising "effective sovereignty" over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities have said their control over the waterway will not be compromised, and the IRGC has launched retaliatory attacks on US assets.

US President Donald Trump: Trump ordered CENTCOM to resume the blockade and initially announced a 20% fee on ships passing through the strait, but dropped the plan hours before resuming the blockade, citing requests from allies in the Gulf, as reported by France 24.