The United States military has announced the initiation of a new series of strikes against Iran, alongside a renewed maritime blockade of the country's ports. Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for U.S. military operations in the Middle East, reported that at 3 PM EDT on July 14, U.S. forces began another wave of strikes targeting Iran, with the objective of diminishing Tehran's ability to threaten commercial shipping.

The scale of this latest attack remains unclear. According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, the port city of Bandar Abbas and several other locations near Sirik have been struck. Additionally, IRNA reported that the Hengam Island, located in the Persian Gulf south of Qeshm Island, was also targeted by U.S. forces.

In response, the Iranian military claimed to have launched drones at U.S. facilities at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq, Jordan. They declared that the operations would continue and warned that any attacks on Iranian territory would be met with retaliation.

On the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to all vessels except those from Iran. He stated, "Therefore, we will impose a comprehensive blockade, but only on ships entering Iranian ports or carrying any goods related to Iran." Trump also revealed plans to replace the previous system of charging a "protection fee" for vessels passing through the Strait with trade and investment agreements with Gulf allies.

After a period of relative calm lasting about three weeks following a memorandum signed by the U.S. and Iran in mid-June, tensions have escalated. The U.S., in coordination with Oman and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has established a new shipping route south of the Strait of Hormuz, entirely within Oman's territorial waters. This route encourages commercial vessels to opt for this path instead of the northern route through Iranian waters.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accused the U.S. of imposing its will on the Omani government in an attempt to divert more vessels through what they termed an "illegal maritime route" in the southern region. Shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz have faced attacks, leading to retaliatory strikes between Iran and the U.S.

As the situation continues to develop, the international community watches closely, concerned about the implications for regional stability and global trade.