US launches new attacks on Iran, resumes naval blockade

The United States has launched a new series of attacks against Iran, according to the U.S. military's Regional Command (Centcom). The operation, which began at 3 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time (9 p.m. MESZ), aims to degrade Iran's capacity to launch assaults on commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This escalation follows President Donald Trump's recent declaration ending the ceasefire with Iran and his subsequent pledge of further military action.

Adding to the pressure, the U.S. military announced it has reinstated a naval blockade against Iranian ports. This blockade mirrors a similar measure imposed in mid-April and later lifted in mid-June as part of a framework agreement with Tehran. The renewed blockade signifies a significant increase in U.S. efforts to control maritime traffic and exert pressure on Iran.

Earlier reports indicated Trump had proposed a 20 percent tariff on the value of goods passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal he later retracted at the request of Gulf allies, citing planned investments from Gulf states in the U.S. instead. Iranian media, however, reported that Iran responded to these actions with attacks on ships and targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, resulting in casualties. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also threatened to blockade all energy exports from the region, stating that "not a single drop of oil and gas" would be exported as long as U.S. "malicious actions" continue. These developments place further strain on the already fragile ceasefire agreement, with regional mediators reportedly working to de-escalate tensions and prevent an open conflict.