The United States military has intensified its campaign against Iranian military infrastructure, executing strikes across key sites including Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas. Simultaneously, the U.S. Navy has initiated a maritime blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal regions, escalating the conflict following maritime aggression in the Strait of Hormuz.
Escalating Strikes Across Iranian Coastal Cities
The military confrontation between Washington and Tehran has shifted into a more aggressive phase this week. According to a U.S. official who spoke to Reuters, American forces carried out multiple strikes on Tuesday aimed at what were described as “emerging threats.” These operations follow a broader offensive that, according to officials in the U.S. Central Command, has seen more than 300 Iranian military targets struck within the past week in response to Tehran’s continued hostilities in the Strait.
The tactical focus appears to be the Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding infrastructure. Iranian state media, including the Fars news agency, reported that five explosions occurred near the coastal city of Bandar Abbas, while strikes were also confirmed on Qeshm Island, Bushehr—site of the country’s only nuclear power plant—and the oil-refining hub of Abadan, as well as the petrochemical area of Mahshahr. Iranian officials noted that the Masen area of Qeshm Island has been targeted repeatedly in recent days.
The Maritime Blockade of Iranian Ports
The kinetic strikes are now coupled with a formal maritime blockade. The Joint Information Center, operating under U.S. Navy command, announced that the blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal zones officially commenced at 8 p.m. GMT on Tuesday. The directive stipulates that the measure applies to all maritime traffic entering or exiting Iranian ports, regardless of the flag the vessel flies.
For more on this story, see iran launches retaliatory strikes across Middle East.
Despite the comprehensive nature of the order, the Joint Information Center clarified that the blockade will not hinder the passage of neutral ships through the Strait of Hormuz, to and from non-Iranian destinations. Furthermore, the center stated that shipments of humanitarian aid would be permitted, provided they are subject to inspection.
Congressional Notification and Military Authority
The escalation has prompted a formal notification from the White House to Congress. President Donald Trump informed lawmakers that the U.S. has entered into a state of war with Iran again, a designation that provides his administration with a 60-day window to utilize military force without a new congressional mandate. This notification follows the official expiration of a two-month ceasefire that had been in place since April. In a letter to Congress dated July 10, obtained by Politico, President Trump stated that the strikes which began on July 7 represent military action consistent with his responsibility to protect Americans and U.S. interests.
This follows our earlier report, US Reimposes Naval Blockade on Iran.
The President wrote to Congress: United States military forces remain on alert to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address additional threats and attacks on the United States or its allies and partners, and to ensure that the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran ceases to be a threat to the United States and its allies and partners.
Conflicting Signals on Transit Fees
While the military posture has hardened, the administration’s economic policy regarding the Strait remains subject to internal friction. President Trump publicly walked back a proposal floated on Monday to impose a 20 percent transit fee on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz. Addressing the potential levy, the President stated, I don’t think any party should impose fees. He added, I don’t like the concept of fees, but at the same time, it’s not fair that we protect this strait for the benefit of the world at large.
Read also: U.S. Central Command strikes Iranian coastal targets near Bandar Abbas and Bushehr.
As the 60-day window for military action begins, the administration maintains that its forces remain on high alert to respond to further threats. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns regarding their responsibility for rising gas prices ahead of the midterm elections as the U.S. continues to navigate the conflict in the Strait.
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