US Resumes Iran Attacks and Naval Blockade, Oil Prices Rise

The U.S. Central Command announced a new wave of precision strikes against Iranian military facilities, targeting coastal defence systems, missile launch sites and the Greater Tunb island. The operation, described by CENTCOM as aimed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” followed the re‑imposition of a naval blockade on Iranian ports and vessels entering or leaving the waterway.

President Donald Trump reinstated the blockade and initially floated a 20 % fee on cargoes transiting the strait, later replacing it with commercial‑investment agreements with Gulf states. The heightened tensions have pushed Brent crude to about $85‑86 per barrel and U.S. WTI to roughly $80, reflecting market concerns over possible disruptions to a fifth of global oil trade.

Iran has reported civilian casualties, claiming more than 30 deaths, and warned it could block regional energy exports if the pressure continues. Regional actors, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have also been drawn into the escalating dispute.