The United States launched military strikes on Iran early Tuesday, hours after President Donald Trump declared a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and proposed a 20% toll for safe passage. The escalation follows Iranian attacks on two Emirati tankers and regional strikes, deepening a volatile conflict that has disrupted global energy markets.
Military Strikes and the New Blockade
The U.S. military’s Central Command confirmed on Tuesday that it carried out strikes against Iranian coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites and maritime capabilities
in several locations, including Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, and Jask. According to AP News, these actions were framed as a necessary measure to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping. President Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, characterized the campaign as a major attack
and confirmed that the U.S. is reinstating a blockade on Iranian shipping.
This military posture is accompanied by a significant shift in U.S. maritime policy. This proposal marks a departure from long-standing international norms of free navigation, which the U.S. Navy has historically defended since the early 19th century.
Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz
The regional situation deteriorated further when Iran targeted two United Arab Emirates-linked tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, in the southern lane of the strait. Reuters reported that one Indian crew member was killed and eight others were wounded in the attack. The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed that the vessels were in Omani territorial waters when they were struck by cruise missiles.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the incident, alleging that the tankers had ignored multiple warnings and attempted to traverse a mined route. Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported a separate incident in which a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile 40 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Qalhat, though the crew remained safe.
Legal and Economic Implications of Tolls
The proposal to charge a 20% fee on cargo has prompted immediate scrutiny from maritime and legal experts. Furthermore, maritime law experts point out that the strait is an international waterway where vessels enjoy the right of free passage.
James Kraska, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College, noted that while the U.S. could theoretically offer voluntary convoy protection for a fee, a mandatory toll would likely violate international law.
Market Volatility and Regional Instability
The conflict has had a tangible impact on global markets. Benchmark Brent crude oil rose to a one-month high of over $84 per barrel on Tuesday. While this remains below the peaks seen earlier in the conflict, the threat of further disruption looms large.
Beyond the tankers, Iran also conducted retaliatory strikes against Bahrain and intercepted missiles over Jordan. As regional powers like the UAE reserve their right to respond, the risk of a broader conflict remains high. The U.S.
Stakes for the Coming Days
The immediate focus turns to whether shipping companies will attempt to pay for U.S. protection or avoid the strait entirely. With Iran, the U.S., and regional allies all vying for control of the waterway, observers are watching for whether the interim agreement to keep the strait open—signed just last month—can survive the current round of hostilities. The primary uncertainty remains the feasibility of the U.S. blockade: whether the U.S. can successfully maintain its role as the self-declared guardian without triggering a wider, more costly confrontation in the Gulf.
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