U.S. Reimposes Full Iranian Naval Blockade Amid Escalating Regional Conflict

The U.S. military has intensified its campaign against Iran, with CENTCOM executing a fourth round of precision airstrikes and reimposing a total naval blockade on all Iranian ports. This escalation follows Tehran's indefinite closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In a significant policy shift, President Trump cancelled a proposed 20% transit fee for ships in the Strait, stating that Gulf leaders preferred making direct, multi-billion dollar investment deals into the United States instead. The conflict has expanded beyond the Persian Gulf, as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to shut down the Bab el-Mandeb gateway in the Red Sea. On Wednesday, Iranian forces launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait. In Washington, President Trump issued a stern warning that the U.S. will target Iranian power plants and bridges in the coming week if a diplomatic breakthrough is not achieved. The human cost of the maritime escalation was underscored by the discovery of an Indian sailor's body near Oman, marking the first confirmed commercial fatality in the current crisis. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury has moved to impose new sanctions on dozens of entities and vessels linked to Iranian oil exports as part of the broader pressure campaign.