U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates: Naval Blockade Resumes as Trump Scraps Hormuz Toll

U.S. forces have completed a fourth consecutive night of targeted airstrikes against Iranian military installations, including facilities in Bushehr and Bandar Abbas, as the Trump administration officially reinstated a total naval blockade on all Iranian ports. The blockade, confirmed by CENTCOM, went into effect at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday, supported by a massive naval presence of 19 warships and two aircraft carriers in the northern Arabian Sea. President Trump formally notified Congress of the resumed hostilities, invoking executive authority to maintain combat operations for at least 60 days. In a significant diplomatic shift, President Trump abruptly withdrew his proposal to levy a 20% transit fee on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The President indicated the reversal came after reaching agreements with Gulf states for significant investments within the United States. However, regional instability has led the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to ban all civil aviation through July 29 across Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and the Gulf of Oman, citing an immediate threat to airline safety. The conflict has also triggered sharp warnings of a burgeoning humanitarian crisis. The UN human rights chief stated that the resumption of hostilities and the naval blockade represent a "huge setback" for civilians, potentially cutting off vital supplies of food and medicine. Meanwhile, Iran has launched coordinated retaliatory strikes against U.S. military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait, while continuing to target commercial oil tankers flagged to the United Arab Emirates.