U.S. Navy Restarts Maritime Blockade of Iran Ports

On July 14 the U.S. Central Command announced that, by order of President Donald Trump, the United States will resume a naval blockade of all Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade will stop any vessel that attempts to transit to or from Iranian ports, while allowing ships that do not violate the restrictions to continue normal passage. Trump warned that any Iranian military vessel approaching the exclusion zone would be "eliminated" immediately. The U.S. also said it will levy a 20 % fee for protecting vessels transiting the Hormuz waterway.

The renewed operation follows an earlier blockade that ran from 13 April to 18 June, during which U.S. forces diverted more than 140 ships, disabled nine non‑compliant vessels and permitted over 50 commercial and humanitarian ships to pass. The decision comes after failed peace negotiations in Islamabad and amid heightened regional tensions, with U.S. forces ready to enforce the order using Centcom assets, including maritime drones and precision weapons.