All posts tagged: Hormuz

renewed U.S.-Iran conflict chokes Hormuz

renewed U.S.-Iran conflict chokes Hormuz

Published by Sam Flores

Commercial vessels remain anchored off Port Sultan Qaboos around Qaboos Port on June 21, 2026 in Muscat, Oman. Elke Scholiers | Getty Images News | Getty Images Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slumped since U.S. President Donald Trump’s blockade took effect last week, with shipowners increasingly avoiding one of the world’s most important energy corridors as fighting between the U.S. and Iran intensifies.  Crossings through the Strait have fallen sharply across multiple shipping datasets with renewed U.S. strikes on Iran, Tehran’s declaration of a blanket ban on maritime traffic and fresh attacks on commercial vessels has prompted operators to reassess the risks of entering the Gulf.  Lloyd’s List Intelligence recorded just 53 vessel transits in the week through July 20, down 66% from 157 the previous week. Tanker and gas carrier movements, which are the ships responsible for transporting most Gulf crude oil and liquefied natural gas, dropped to 30 crossings from 90.  Kpler data similarly show activity deteriorating almost immediately after the blockade began. Daily crossings, which had averaged more than …

Iran Says Two Tankers Exploded In Hormuz Chokepoint As Ship Traffic Near Standstill

Iran Says Two Tankers Exploded In Hormuz Chokepoint As Ship Traffic Near Standstill

Published by Jenni Sidey

Visible maritime traffic through the Hormuz chokepoint remained subdued into the new week after Iranian forces allgedly targeted tankers attempting to transit the narrow waterway, including routes close to Oman. This comes as the US and Iran have been locked in a dangerous tit-for-tat escalation that has entered its ninth day. UK maritime authorities reported an unverified vessel fire near Oman late Sunday. Reuters reports that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed two crude oil tankers exploded and were immobilized while using what Tehran called an unsafe southern route in the Hormuz. Bloomberg ship-tracking data shows that vessels crossing the Hormuz chokepoint have come to a near standstill as Gulf escalation has surged for the ninth day, with Iran targeting not just the maritime chokepoint but also US military assets at Jordan’s Aqaba airport with ballistic missiles, as well as US assets at Kuwait’s Al-Adiri camp and Ali Al Salem Air Base, and in Syria. Iran also hit civilian infrastructure, notably power generation and water desalination plants in Kuwait. There is a power struggle for control over …

U.S.-Iran battle over Strait of Hormuz raises risk for world’s trade routes : NPR

U.S.-Iran battle over Strait of Hormuz raises risk for world’s trade routes : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

A tugboat guides a ship at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman, on July 14. AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption AFP via Getty Images In late June, shortly after the United States and Iran agreed on a ceasefire, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced an operation to move trapped ships and more than 11,000 seafarers out of the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic international waterway has been effectively closed by the Iranian regime since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February. The IMO said the operation would be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal states in the region, the United States and the maritime industry. The ships were directed to take a route along the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz, hugging Oman’s coastline, rather than a route along Iran’s coastline on the northern side of the strait. “Over 100 …

Iran warns of Hormuz ‘red line,’ retaliation to Trump’s strike threats

Iran warns of Hormuz ‘red line,’ retaliation to Trump’s strike threats

Published by Sam Flores

Pro-government supporters stand next to a banner depicting a portrait of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a nightly rally in Tehran, Iran, on July 12, 2026. Morteza Nikoubazl | Nurphoto | Getty Images Iran warned Thursday that it would “crush” key targets in the Middle East if U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to target the country’s infrastructure in the coming days are carried out. Trump said in a Tuesday evening interview with Fox News that U.S. forces would target key Iranian infrastructure next week if a diplomatic breakthrough is not achieved. “Next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants,” he said. “Next week comes the bridges. We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.” In a statement published on Telegram on Thursday morning, a spokesperson for Iran’s top military command said that if Trump’s threats were implemented “everything that is still intact … that is, all the infrastructure …

Todd Blanche; Strait of Hormuz; ICE traffic stops : NPR

Todd Blanche; Strait of Hormuz; ICE traffic stops : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today’s top stories Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee today as President Trump’s nominee to lead the Justice Department permanently. Blanche is expected to face questions about his handling of the Epstein files, the targeting of the president’s political enemies and the broader politicization of justice. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche listens during a news conference at the Department of Justice building on July 1. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images 🎧 Democrats oppose Blanche’s nomination, NPR’s Ryan Lucas tells Up First. With Republicans holding a razor-thin Senate majority, a handful of GOP defections could be enough to block his confirmation. The hearing begins at 9 a.m. ET. Watch it live here. ➡️ Survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, including Dani Bensky, are speaking out against Blanche’s nomination. Bensky is expected to …

Dubai to build new port to bypass Strait of Hormuz as Iran continues attacks on ships

Dubai to build new port to bypass Strait of Hormuz as Iran continues attacks on ships

Published by Sam Flores

Dubai is planning to build a new port and terminal to circumvent Iran‘s control over the Strait of Hormuz. Passage through the vital shipping route – through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passes – has been disrupted since US–Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February. Despite an interim agreement effectively opening up access to commercial vessels, a row has broken out over the interpretation of a clause relating to the waterway, sparking a resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran. Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on Monday (Reuters) In response, Dubai-based port operator DP World is in talks to develop new facilities in the coastal area of Fujairah, people familiar with the matter told the Financial Times. Follow the latest developments here The project would reduce dependence on the United Arab Emirates’ flagship Jebel Ali port and avoid any transit through Hormuz. Earlier this year the facility was struck by debris from an Iranian missile sparking a blaze. Plans reportedly include a new terminal at the existing harbour …

Iran pulls out of MoU to ‘take control’ of Strait of Hormuz ‘no matter what’ | World | News

Iran pulls out of MoU to ‘take control’ of Strait of Hormuz ‘no matter what’ | World | News

Published by Sam Flores

The country’s Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran will exercise “full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, no matter the costs,” The Hormuz Letter reports. It is understood that Iran’s control over the strait will include Oman’s half of the critical waterway. The Strait of Hormuz has been a point of contention in the conflict which sparked on February 28, when joint US-Israeli attacks were carried out on several key Iranian sites. Iran retaliated by closing the critical Strait of Hormuz trade route, through which 20% of all global oil traded passes. On June 17, the US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring the war to a close within 60 days. Washington and Tehran had been working towards securing a lasting peace agreement to bring the conflict to an end, restore international shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz and seek to settle an ongoing dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire to be “over” at a NATO summit in Türkiye …

U.S. strikes Iran before Hormuz Strait blockade restarts

U.S. strikes Iran before Hormuz Strait blockade restarts

Published by Sam Flores

An F-35B Lighting II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, takes off from the flight deck of America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 13, 2026. Courtesy: U.S. Navy U.S. forces launched strikes against Iranian targets shortly before the U.S. resumed its naval blockade of Iranian ports in and around the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday. The latest round of strikes, aimed at “degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping” in the economically vital strait, began at 3 p.m. ET, Centcom said in an X post. The U.S. said its naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman would restart at 4 p.m. ET. In a statement posted on social media later in the day, Brad Cooper, Centcom Commander, said that Iran had “intentionally” targeted civilians and attacked seven commercial ships over the past seven days, resulting in about a dozen crew members killed, missing or injured. The blockade of Iranian ports was lifted after the U.S. and Iran struck a temporary ceasefire deal as part of a …

Who Really Controls the Strait of Hormuz?

Who Really Controls the Strait of Hormuz?

Published by Sam Flores

This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Yesterday, President Trump wrote on Truth Social that the United States would become the “GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” blockading Iranian ports and ensuring the safe passage of non-Iranian vessels. And in the spirit of “FAIRNESS,” he added, the U.S. would charge vessels a fee for the trouble. Then, this morning, an amendment: Trump disposed of the fee idea while still indicating that he intends to assert control of the strait and resume the blockade. Now, Trump says, the Gulf states will be making “the Trade and Investment Deals” with the U.S. as a form of compensation. But the particulars of those deals (and of which states will participate) remain unclear. Today marked the fourth consecutive day of strikes across Iran. The cease-fire has disintegrated—Trump formally notified Congress yesterday that the war has resumed—and negotiations have collapsed. If American …

Trump retreats from shipping toll in Strait of Hormuz

Trump retreats from shipping toll in Strait of Hormuz

Published by Sam Flores

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is pivoting away from an earlier threat of a “reimbursement fee” for ships going through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait, Trump declared on Truth Social, “is open to ALL Ship traffic except for Iran,” pinning the blame for the restrictions on Tehran’s leadership. The U.S. would proceed with a blockade on Iran, he said, which would affect only “ships coming to and from Iranian ports, or carrying anything have to do with Iranian cargo.” Source link