An IF-35B Lighting II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, takes off from the flight deck of the USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 13, 2026.
Source: US Navy
The US military launched strikes against Iranian targets shortly before the US resumed a blockade of Iranian ports in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command said on Tuesday.
The latest round of strikes, aimed at “degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping” in an economically important situation, began at 3pm ET, CENTCOM said in an X post.
The US said its naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman will resume at 4 pm ET.
The embargo was lifted after the US and Iran agreed to a temporary freeze as part of a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed last month. But President Donald Trump last week declared that the ceasefire was “over” after more clashes erupted in the region and as each side accused the other of violating the terms of the accord.
Trump announced Monday that the US would once again roll back its embargo on Iran, as Tehran’s efforts to forcefully manage the crisis appear to be backsliding as a ceasefire falls by the wayside.
Commercial vessel traffic through the waterway, which was well below pre-war levels as the ceasefire took effect, has fallen sharply in recent days, shipping tracking firms found.
Before the US and Israel launched a war against Iran in late February, the strait saw 20% of the world’s oil pass through it.
“The Strait of Hormuz is OPEN, and it will stay OPEN, with or without Iran,” Trump said in a Truth Social post announcing the return of the blockade.
In the same post, Trump said the US would begin seeking a refund of “20% on all goods shipped” this way.
The policy proposal was met with deep skepticism from energy experts and immediate opposition from shipping industry groups, including the United Nations Maritime Organization. Critics were quick to point to recent clips of Trump administration officials announcing that it would be legal for the country to levy taxes on international waterways.
One day after announcing the 20% tariff plan, Trump reversed course. He spoke on Truth Social Tuesday morning and said he would “substitute” the proposed bill on “Trade and Investment Agreements to be made by various Gulf States with the United States.”
At the White House later Tuesday, Trump said he made calls to world leaders who told him “we’d like to do it differently.”
“I like that, actually, because I don’t think anybody should be able to charge money,” Trump said. “I don’t think anyone should be in that position, but we were doing it in return.”
He said he spoke with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and others. None of those countries has yet revealed plans this week to boost investment in the US
