CENTCOM reimposes blockade, strikes new Iranian targets

Photo: CENTCOM

With the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports back in effect,U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed a morning round of strikes against Iran at 7:30 a.m. ET on July 15. It said that precision munitions were used against coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island during thMe 90-minute wave, further degrading Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM began reimposing the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports yesterday. This morning it said that in the 17 hours following reimposition of the blockade it had redirected two commercial vessels attempting to run it.

KPLER: Hormuz risks deepen further

According to Kpler, confirmed Strait of Hormuz crossings rose slightly July 14, with 21 monitored transits recorded, dominated by commercial traffic carrying crude, LPG, methanol and iron ore.

“However,” says Kpler, “the security outlook deteriorated further as three additional attacks off Oman were verified, bringing the reported toll to 56 confirmed incidents and 17 seafarer fatalities. The absence of Omani route transits highlights a growing loss of confidence in that corridor, while shipping continues to favor Iranian approved routing. At the same time, reports that the U.S. is considering a 20% cargo transit toll add fresh legal and geopolitical uncertainty. The Strait remains passable, but the operating environment is becoming increasingly complex and unstable.

TRUMP BACK TRACKS ON TOLL

In a post on Truth Social , President Trump backed away from his earlier plans for that 20% toll. Here’s what he posted:

Oil is flowing like never before, thanks to the awesome Power of the United States Military. A special salute to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, and Commander of the United States Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper. Because of them, and all members of the Most Powerful Military anywhere in the World, BY FAR, the Strait of Hormuz is open to ALL Ship traffic except for Iran — and that is because of their lying, violent, malicious leadership, which is taking them down the path of TOTAL DESTRUCTION. We will therefore have a FULL Blockade, but only on Ships coming to and from Iranian ports, or carrying anything have to do with Iranian cargo. Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States. Those Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them, and their future. As everyone is aware, we have the largest Dollar Investment into the United States, of any Country in History, but these new Investments will make that Number even larger, and we will see Factories, Plants, and Equipment pour into the United States at Historic levels, which will create additional millions of High Paying AMERICAN Jobs! America is WINNING again, winning like never before. The days of Iran killing hundreds of thousands of people, including 52,000 protestors, are OVER and, most importantly, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP