US naval blockade of Iran escalates Strait of Hormuz tension

The United States re‑imposed a naval blockade on Iranian shipping, directing five commercial vessels away from Iranian ports and disabling one tanker that ignored warnings. The blockade, enforced by the USS Donald Cook and an MH‑60 Sea Hawk, aims to restrict oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, a channel that carries roughly 20 % of global oil supplies.

US Central Command reported a series of airstrikes against Iranian Revolutionary Guard facilities to punish alleged attacks on U.S. forces, including a drone and missile strike in Jordan that killed two service members, left one missing and wounded four others. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Jordan, striking the Ali Al‑Salam radar site in Kuwait and a logistics hub in Arif Jaan, Iraq, causing casualties and damaging infrastructure.

Iranian officials also warned the United States that continued operations would incur “unforgettable lessons.” Iranian statements claimed successful strikes on U.S. facilities in Kuwait, including a desalination plant and an oil facility, injuring personnel and prompting temporary air‑space closures.

Civilian casualties in Iran have risen, with provincial health authorities reporting at least 38 deaths and over 400 injuries after successive U.S. bombings of transport infrastructure in Hormozgan. The ongoing exchange of attacks has heightened regional security concerns and pressured global oil markets.