An F-35B Lighting II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 takes off from the flight deck of the American-class amphibious assault ship Tripoli (LHA 7) on May 13, 2026.
Provided by: U.S. Navy
U.S. Central Command announced Tuesday that U.S. forces began strikes against Iranian targets just before the U.S. resumed its naval blockade of Iranian ports in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said on the X Post that the latest attack, aimed at “degrading Iran’s ability to be used to attack commercial shipping” in the economically important strait, began at 3pm ET.
The naval blockade of the Gulf of Oman is scheduled to resume at 4pm ET.
The blockade was lifted after the United States and Iran reached a temporary ceasefire agreement as part of a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed last month. But after multiple escalations in hostilities in the region, with each side accusing the other of violating the terms of the agreement, President Donald Trump last week declared the ceasefire “over.”
President Trump announced on Monday that the United States would reimpose a blockade against Iran, but Iran appears to be re-intensifying its efforts to take control of the strait by force as the ceasefire stalls.
Commercial shipping traffic through the waterway, which was well below pre-war levels even when the cease-fire was in effect, has fallen sharply in recent days, ship tracking companies have found.
Before the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran in late February, 20% of the world’s oil passed through the strait.
“The Strait of Hormuz is open and will remain open with or without Iran,” Trump claimed in a post on Truth Social announcing the reopening.
In the same post, President Trump said the U.S. would begin demanding reimbursement for “20% of all cargo” shipped through the strait.
The policy proposal was met with deep skepticism from energy experts and immediate opposition from shipping industry groups, including the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization. Critics quickly revived recent footage of Trump administration officials declaring it illegal for countries to impose tolls on international waterways.
A day after announcing the 20% fee plan, President Trump reversed course. He claimed on Tuesday morning’s Truth Social that the proposed tolls would be “replaced” with “trade and investment agreements that the Gulf states would enter into with the United States.”
Speaking at the White House late Tuesday, President Trump said he had fielded calls from world leaders saying, “We would love to do it differently.”
“Actually, I like that, because I don’t think anyone should be able to charge fees for the use of the Strait,” Trump said. “I don’t think anyone should really be in that position, but we were doing it as redemption.”
He said he had held discussions with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and others. None of these countries have yet announced plans to increase investment in the United States this week.
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