The United States has launched a series of military strikes against Iranian targets, effectively ending a June ceasefire and a fragile memorandum of understanding. President Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade of Iranian ports and announced that the U.S. will assume responsibility for protecting the Strait of Hormuz, while imposing a 20% surcharge on all cargo transported through the waterway. This escalation follows what the U.S. characterized as Iranian violations of the agreement, specifically citing attacks on civilian vessels and oil tankers.
Collapse of the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding
Escalation and the Collapse of the June Memorandum
The current military confrontation marks the definitive collapse of a memorandum of understanding signed electronically and separately on June 17. The agreement had briefly halted hostilities between the two nations and was intended to facilitate a 60-day window for final negotiations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, tensions resurfaced rapidly following a series of incidents, including the grounding of a foreign container ship on July 2. According to Iranian state media, the vessel became stuck due to the shallowness of the water after it moved outside of what Tehran described as the Iranian-specified path.
The memorandum had been preceded by indirect negotiations in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, which resulted in a one-week military truce to allow the U.S. to observe its 250th anniversary of independence and Iran to conduct funeral ceremonies for the late Ali Khamenei. Despite these efforts, the situation deteriorated. On July 8, President Trump declared the memorandum finished and threatened strong strikes against Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused Washington of not being patient, alleging that the U.S. violated the memorandum by failing to wait for the expiration of a 30-day period regarding commitments in the Strait.
For more on this story, see U.S. Military Launches Second Wave of Airstrikes Against Iranian Targets.
CENTCOM Precision Strikes on Iranian Military Infrastructure
U.S. Military Operations and the Strait of Hormuz Blockade
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that its forces completed a five-hour wave of precision strikes against Iran in the early hours of Tuesday. The operation targeted military infrastructure across Iran, specifically hitting sites in Bushehr, Chabahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas. The U.S. utilized precision-guided munitions against coastal air defense systems, missile launch sites, drone facilities, and naval capabilities. This followed a period of intense activity, with U.S. air and naval forces conducting approximately 67 reconnaissance and refueling sorties between June 30 and July 2.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, President Trump emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is now open to all traffic except for Iran, while announcing a complete blockade on ships traveling to or from Iranian ports or carrying cargo linked to Iran. The President credited the operation to military leadership, specifically naming Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kane, and CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper. President Trump stated: It is flowing at an unprecedented pace thanks to the tremendous power of the U.S. military.
This follows our earlier report, iran launches retaliatory strikes across Middle East.
Kpler Platform Data on Declining Maritime Traffic
Economic Impact and Shipping Disruptions
The volatility in the Strait of Hormuz is reflected in maritime traffic data. According to data from the Kpler platform, seven ships crossed the strait on Wednesday, a significant drop from the 13 vessels recorded the previous day. The data highlights a shift in transit patterns; four empty vessels—three small oil tankers and one grain carrier—entered the Gulf on Wednesday. Conversely, three ships exited the strait carrying liquefied petroleum gas, coal, and fuel oil. Notably, no supertankers or liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers transited the waterway on Wednesday. Earlier, on Tuesday, Kpler data showed a Suezmax tanker carrying one million barrels of Saudi crude oil exited the strait with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder switched off.
Read also: US Strikes Iranian Military Sites Amid Escalating Regional Tensions.
Iranian Military Rejection of the U.S. Blockade
While the White House maintains that the waterway remains open and oil is flowing despite recent attacks on maritime traffic, Iranian officials have rejected the legitimacy of U.S. actions. The Iranian military stated that U.S. hostilities will not be able to open the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the U.S. of establishing an illegal corridor south of the strait. Iran maintains that the enforcement of its own laws in the passage is the only path to reopening the route. As the conflict continues, President Trump has characterized the current Iranian leadership as false, violent, and malicious, asserting that the U.S. is committed to ensuring Iran never possesses a nuclear weapon.
Update (July 17, 2026)
According to bbc.co.uk, the United States has launched a new wave of strikes against Iran for a sixth consecutive night, with Central Command stating these attacks were intended to further degrade Iranian military capabilities. Reported strikes occurred near the Gulf island of Qeshm, in addition to Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. Tehran claims it has struck U.S. military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump remains open to diplomacy while holding Iran accountable, noting that the administration is currently in talks with Tehran. However, the Strait of Hormuz remains shut. Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Tehran has no reason to abide by agreements that do not benefit the country, asserting that national security depends on maintaining Iranian arrangements in the waterway.
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