US strikes intensify Strait of Hormuz rivalry with Iran amid naval blockade tensions.

Washington and Tehran have intensified their rivalry over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane, as military exchanges escalated on Monday night. The United States launched its third consecutive evening of strikes against Iranian targets just hours before a reinstated naval blockade of Iran's ports was set to take effect. According to US Central Command, which oversees operations in the region, the offensive began at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Time, or 20:45 GMT, with the stated objective of degrading Tehran's ability to target innocent civilians and commercial vessels within the strait.

Reports from Iranian state television and semi-official news outlets described explosions rippling across the country's southern coastline throughout the night. These blasts reportedly affected multiple locations, including the major port city of Bandar Abbas, as well as Kish and Qeshm islands and Jam in Bushehr province. The Fars news agency, citing a statement from the regional governor's office, noted that a projectile impacting western Bandar Abbas caused no casualties. Meanwhile, Iran's Tasnim news agency claimed its forces struck several ships alleged to be violating maritime norms and reported shooting down a drone of American manufacture near Bandar Abbas.

The conflict also impacted neighboring nations, with the United Arab Emirates confirming that two of its oil tankers were hit by Iranian cruise missiles while navigating Omani waters in the strait. The UAE reported that one crew member holding Indian nationality lost his life on board one of the vessels, while eight others suffered injuries. In response to these incidents and broader tensions, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a retaliatory campaign targeting US allies and interests throughout the Gulf region.

Iranian military forces stated they conducted drone attacks against specific assets in Kuwait, including a US Patriot missile system, fuel depots, watchtowers, ammunition storage facilities, and communication infrastructure. This action followed earlier strikes on Monday directed at targets in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. The legal framework for the engagement was established when President Donald Trump formally notified Congress on July 10 that hostilities had resumed on July 7, thereby invoking his authority to maintain US forces in combat operations for an additional 60 days without further legislative approval.

Despite the executive action taken by the administration, political opposition has emerged within the United States legislature. Senior Democrat Chuck Schumer publicly criticized the decision to re-engage in active fighting with Iran. He emphasized that both chambers of Congress had previously voted to withdraw US forces from harm's way and bring an end to the war immediately.

The blockade must be enforced," Trump stated in a message posted to X. The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) confirmed that restrictions are set to commence at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday. This development signifies the swift dissolution of the ceasefire established in June under a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, as both nations now contest control over a vital waterway through which approximately one-fifth of global oil traffic flowed prior to the US and Israel's February campaign against Iran.

According to JMIC, American forces are imposing blockades on all Iranian ports and terminals along the southern coast. While vessels destined for locations other than Iran may continue passage and humanitarian aid shipments will be permitted following inspection, the rules differ significantly for others. Ships suspected of assisting Iran in circumventing the blockade via ship-to-ship transfers face boarding procedures; those that refuse compliance risk being disabled or destroyed.

Monday's exchanges highlighted an ongoing dispute regarding authority over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump reiterated his assertion that the strait remains open and proposed a 20 percent toll on cargo passing through it in return for American security guarantees. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the US president's claims, asserting that Tehran "has always been the guardian of the strait and will remain so forever."

During a news conference Monday, Trump noted that Iran's offensive capabilities were being dismantled while maintaining his belief that an agreement remains achievable despite the resumption of hostilities. Mike Hanna of Al Jazeera, reporting from the White House, observed that active combat does not preclude a return to diplomatic discussions. "The ceasefire is over, but the negotiations are still there," he remarked, emphasizing that Washington intends to preserve "the concept of negotiations" even without active talks, driven by an administration eager to finalize a deal.

Trump also reinforced his demand for Gulf states to contribute financially toward protecting shipping lanes, stating that Washington was "protecting a very rich portion of the world" and expected reimbursement for these efforts. This escalation follows weeks of reciprocal strikes that gradually eroded the June truce as Iran and the US clashed over traffic control rights in the strait.

Market reactions were immediate, with oil prices surging more than 9 percent on Monday. Brent crude reached approximately $81 a barrel, marking its highest point since mid-June. Data from Kpler, a ship-tracking firm, indicated that crossings through the strait dropped by about 52 percent between July 10 and July 12 compared to the previous week. As vessels altered course toward Iranian coastal waters or deactivated their automatic identification systems to avoid detection, direct routes became increasingly hazardous under the new restrictions.