Key facts
- President Donald Trump has abandoned a plan to charge a 20% fee on cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The U.S. has reinstated a naval blockade against Iranian ports.
- U.S. forces conducted strikes across southern Iran, with explosions reported near Bandar Abbas and Bushehr.
- Iran's IRGC stated that ending U.S. military intervention is necessary for restoring shipping traffic.
- Omani mediators presented proposals to Iran regarding maritime navigation, which Iran is reviewing.
U.S. President Donald Trump has withdrawn his proposal to impose a 20 percent fee on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz, opting instead for trade and investment agreements with Persian Gulf states. This policy shift coincides with a renewed U.S. naval blockade on Iranian shipping and escalated military actions.
U.S. forces conducted strikes across southern Iran on July 14, with explosions reported near the port city of Bandar Abbas and the city of Bushehr. Attacks were also reported on vessels in the strait, resulting in one crew member killed and eight wounded, according to the United Arab Emirates. Jordan and Bahrain reported intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles.
CENTCOM announced the reinstatement of a naval blockade against maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports, effective July 14. The U.S. military stated it would enforce the blockade while supporting traffic flow for vessels not violating it. These actions follow Trump's notification to Congress that the United States was at war with Iran, initiating a 60-day period for potential military strikes without immediate lawmaker approval.
Trump indicated that a deal to end the fighting remains possible, despite the renewed hostilities. Earlier, he had suggested the U.S. might take control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy transit route. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) stated that the only way to restore regular shipping traffic was to end U.S. military intervention. Iran's top joint military command and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi asserted Iran's historical role as the guardian of the Strait.
Discussions between Iran and Oman regarding safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz have been ongoing. Omani mediators presented proposals to Iran, which Tehran is reviewing before returning to negotiations. However, Iran's national security apparatus recently fired on a commercial vessel and announced the waterway's closure, complicating diplomatic efforts.
The escalating conflict also involves personal threats, with Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowing revenge for his father's death, and President Trump warning of overwhelming retaliation against any assassination attempts.