U.S. and Iran Resume Direct Hostilities; Trump Declares Blockade on Iranian Ports

Direct military hostilities between the United States and Iran have resumed following the collapse of a June ceasefire. CENTCOM launched a series of large-scale airstrikes targeting Iranian coastal defense systems and maritime assets in cities including Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, and Chahbahar. President Donald Trump formally notified Congress of the resumption of hostilities, citing Iranian violations of previous agreements and attacks on commercial shipping. In executive actions effective July 14, 2026, President Trump reinstated a total maritime blockade of Iranian ports and announced that the U.S. would act as the 'Guardian of the Hormuz Strait.' This includes a mandatory 20% transit toll on cargo passing through the waterway to reimburse the U.S. for security expenditures. The blockade targets all Iranian oil terminals and coastal areas regardless of vessel flag, though neutral transit to other destinations and humanitarian goods are permitted following U.S. inspection. Iran responded to the U.S. offensive by launching ballistic missiles at U.S. military installations in Bahrain and attacking two UAE-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation has caused immediate volatility in global energy markets, as the Strait carries approximately 20% of the world’s oil consumption. Regional allies, including the UAE and Oman, are reportedly on high alert as military activity spills over into neighboring Gulf territories.