US launches fresh strikes on Iran as tankers hit in Hormuz strait
Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.
The US conducted a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran on Monday, while two tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz following President Donald Trump's announcement that Washington was reinstating its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf. Trump also declared that the strategic waterway would remain open, but that ships would be charged a fee for transit.
US Central Command stated that it initiated strikes at the president's direction shortly after Trump said Iran "would be hit very hard tonight and we're going to hit them hard tomorrow." The military later clarified that the strikes targeted Iranian capabilities in the strait.
Soon after the strikes, the United Arab Emirates reported that Iranian cruise missiles struck two Emirati oil tankers while they were transiting the southern lane of the vital energy transit route within Omani territorial waters. The attacks resulted in one crew member killed and eight injured.
With the US-Iran memorandum of understanding deteriorated after renewed hostilities last week, Trump asserted that the strait was open and would stay open "with or without Iran." He further announced that the US would impose fees on ships transiting the waterway, stating a 20% charge would be levied "for any and all costs necessary" to ensure the security and safety of vessels.
Iran's top joint military command declared that the US had no authority to determine the future of the strait and would not be permitted to intervene. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X that Tehran would "forever" be of the strait, commenting on Trump's fee proposal:
"20% is of course too much. We will be fair."
Iranian media reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas, Iran's Kish and Qeshm islands, and on Abu Musa Island in the Gulf shortly after the US military announced renewed strikes on Iran.
The US military announced preparations to resume blockading ships entering and exiting Iranian ports starting from 4pm ET on Tuesday, following Trump's declaration.
Oil prices rose 2% to their highest level in four weeks amid increased uncertainty regarding energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures climbed 2% to $84.98 a barrel by 0051 GMT on Tuesday, while US West Texas Intermediate crude increased 2.1% to $79.79. Brent crude had surged 9.6% in the previous session, marking its largest daily gain since May 2020.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) stated that passage through the Strait of Hormuz "should remain free of any tolls and charges, in accordance with international law."
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen reported that its air defenses intercepted ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis targeting the kingdom’s southern region amid escalating tensions following an attack on Sana’a airport. The Houthis claimed that Saudi Arabia had struck the airport in the Yemeni capital. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government took responsibility for the attack, stating it aimed to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. The Houthis warned that these strikes would end an informal truce between the two sides that has been in place since 2022.
Jordan’s military announced it intercepted four missiles launched by Iran. Jordan hosts several US forces and aircraft. On Monday, Iran claimed it had struck Prince Hassan airbase in Jordan as part of its retaliatory strikes against the US, but Jordan denied these reports.
Stocks declined and oil prices reached a one-month high in Asian trading on Tuesday after Trump announced the US was reinstating its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Shares in Taiwan and South Korea were particularly affected, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 0.8%.
Brent crude futures rose 1.7% to $84.72 a barrel, after earlier reaching their highest level since mid-June at $85.64. Markets were also unsettled by comments from US Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on Monday, who indicated the central bank might need to raise interest rates "in the near term" if inflation data remains significantly above the 2% target.
In response to the latest US strikes, Iran launched attacks targeting American bases in Bahrain. This marked the third consecutive day of retaliatory actions by Iran against Gulf countries following US attacks on its facilities.
Early Tuesday, Bahrain sounded missile alert sirens twice, urging the public to seek shelter. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the attacks.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed that a US Patriot radar, a Fifth Fleet air control radar, and other systems were hit in Bahrain, though these claims have not been independently verified.
US Central Command announced approximately an hour ago that it had completed the latest wave of military strikes against Iran.
"During the five-hour mission, U.S. forces successfully struck military targets across Iran including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas to further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping,"
Centcom stated it targeted "Iranian coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities." It also noted that more than 50,000 US service members are currently deployed across the Middle East.
