Washington: The United States launched fresh strikes on Iran early Tuesday, hours after President Donald Trump said Washington would reinstate a blockade of Iranian ports and charge ships for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by attacking US allies in the Middle East, further threatening an interim deal meant to pause the war.
The US military’s Central Command said it struck several areas in Iran, targeting “coastal defence systems, missile and drone sites and maritime capabilities”. It added, “These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Trump described the operation as “another major attack” and said the US was “putting the blockade back”. Later, he wrote, “We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE,” adding, “All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.” He also said the US would charge a fee of 20 per cent of cargo value to cover “any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security.”
Iran responded by targeting Bahrain, Jordan and two UAE-linked tankers travelling through the strait. The Emirati Defence Ministry said one mariner was killed and eight others were wounded. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility, saying the vessels had “ignored repeated warnings”.
The latest developments have placed the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the conflict, raising concerns over global energy supplies and wider economic disruption. Brent crude rose above USD 86 a barrel on Tuesday as uncertainty over regional stability increased.
