US-Iran conflict escalates over Strait of Hormuz control and shipping fees
Consensus Summary
The US and Iran are locked in a dangerous escalation over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route carrying about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas. On July 13, [DATE UNVERIFIED], US President Donald Trump announced a 20% fee on ships transiting the strait, but reversed course hours later, replacing it with trade and investment deals from Gulf states. Iran responded by closing the strait, attacking commercial vessels, and retaliating against US-allied nations like Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. The US launched multiple waves of strikes against Iranian military sites, including bridges, airports, and missile facilities, while Iran targeted US bases and infrastructure in the region. Oil prices surged above $85 a barrel amid fears of further disruptions, and both sides accused each other of violating a June [DATE UNVERIFIED] memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict. The US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, boarding and redirecting ships attempting to bypass it, while Iran threatened to halt all energy exports from the Middle East if the blockade continued. The conflict has killed at least 38 people and injured over 400, with both sides exchanging increasingly aggressive rhetoric and military actions, raising fears of a broader regional war.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, has been a focal point of conflict, with Iran threatening to close it and the US enforcing a naval blockade.
- Iran retaliated against US strikes by targeting US-allied nations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Qatar, with missiles and drones.
- Iranian state media reported explosions and strikes in Bandar Abbas, Kish Island, Qeshm Island, and other southern locations, including Bushehr and Semnan provinces, following US attacks.
- Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that Iran would not adhere to the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) if its clauses were not implemented, calling it a one-sided deal.
- The US and Iran exchanged attacks over the past week, with Iran targeting US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, and the US striking Iranian bridges, airports, and military facilities.
- Iran’s health ministry reported at least 38 people killed and over 400 injured in recent US attacks, including strikes on bridges, hospitals, and residential areas.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to halt all energy exports from the Middle East if the US continued its blockade of Iranian ports.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donald Trump said he was called by 'different people, different countries, kings and emirs' to reconsider the 20% fee on the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated the Strait of Hormuz is part of Iran’s national security and Tehran will exercise sovereignty over it.
- A Kuwaiti Navy vessel was targeted in an Iranian attack on July 14, 2026, injuring four personnel.
- US Central Command announced an additional round of strikes against Iran on July 14, 2026, targeting Iranian capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported three large explosions in Bandar Abbas on July 14, 2026.
- Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei accused the US of pressuring Oman to hinder talks on managing the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have targeted US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan, including radar systems and fuel depots.
- Iran’s health ministry reported 22 women and nine children among the injured in recent US attacks.
- Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that US strikes on July 16, 2026, killed eight people and wounded 20 others, targeting six bridges in Hormozgan province.
- Iran’s military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari threatened to crush all infrastructure in the region if the US interfered with the Strait of Hormuz.
- The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz on July 17, 2026, causing minor damage.
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have targeted American fighter jets and tankers stationed in Jordan using ballistic missiles and drones.
- The US military used sea drones in combat operations for the first time, targeting a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Bandar Abbas.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they would maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz and compel foreign powers to yield to Iran’s will.
- Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi stated that Iran would be the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz forever and would charge a fairer rate than the US’s proposed 20%.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ruled out any attempt to toll the Strait of Hormuz as recently as June 24, 2026, citing international law.
- Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, noted a 20% fee on oil shipments would add $15 to the cost of a barrel.
- Richard Nephew, a senior researcher at Columbia University, questioned the feasibility of the US delivering safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The US military commenced a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran on July 13, 2026, at 6:45 AM AEST.
- The UAE Ministry of Defence reported that two national tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were targeted by Iranian cruise missiles, killing one Indian crew member and injuring eight others.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian and ABC report that Iran’s health ministry stated 38 people were killed and over 400 injured in recent US attacks, but ABC also cites Iranian officials reporting more than 35 people killed and over 300 injured.
- The Guardian reports that Iran disputed Donald Trump’s claim that it had released a detained US citizen, Dena Karari, while ABC and SMH confirm Trump’s statement that she was released and is now safe.
- The Guardian states that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have targeted US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan, but these claims were not independently verified.
- The Guardian and ABC report that the US disabled an unladen oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on July 16, 2026, but the Guardian also notes that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to halt all energy exports from the Middle East over the blockade, which could imply broader economic consequences not directly mentioned in ABC.
- The Guardian reports that Iran’s military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari threatened to crush all infrastructure in the region if the US interfered with the Strait of Hormuz, while ABC does not mention this specific threat.
Source Articles
Trump ditches plan to charge shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump reneges on his pledge to charge a 20 per cent fee on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a day after saying he would introduce it.
US launches new wave of strikes against Iran as Tehran says diplomacy has proven ‘futile’
American and Iranian forces exchange heavy missile and drone attacks over control of strait of Hormuz, increasing pressure on truce The US military has launched a new wave of attacks against Iran amid the escalating standoff over the strait of Hormuz, with Tehran saying the latest strikes had “rendered futile” all the diplomatic efforts of the past few months. The US military began launching more strikes against Iran at 9pm GMT on Sunday, US Central Command (Centcom) said on X, “to continue degr
Marines board tanker amid blockade of Iranian ports as US expands strikes with attacks on bridges
Boarding of M/T Wen Yao in Gulf of Oman comes as expanded airstrike campaign hits five bridges in southern Iran American forces boarded a ship in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday as part of the renewed blockade of Iran’s ports that began earlier this week, the US military said. US Marines boarded the M/T Wen Yao “to ensure full compliance with the ongoing US naval blockade,” US Central Command (Centcom) said in a post on X. Continue reading...
US strikes expand to northern Iran as Tehran fires on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan – Middle East crisis live
Iran reports explosions in several cities including capital while US military says it also hit and disabled tanker in strait of Hormuz US attacks oil tanker in strait of Hormuz as strikes reported in Tehran Iran’s army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said Tehran did not want to confront its regional neighbours, despite an earlier statement by another military official threatening to “crush” infrastructure across the Middle East. “Iran has no conflict with the neighbouring and Islamic countries o
US attacks oil tanker in strait of Hormuz as strikes reported in Tehran
US disables unladen oil tanker using Hellfire missiles in strait of Hormuz amid concerns strikes could spiral into open conflict The US has fired on an oil tanker attempting to reach Kharg Island in the strait of Hormuz as part of its blockade on Iranian ports, as Tehran came under attack for the first time in this latest round of strikes. The US said on Thursday morning it had disabled an unladen oil tanker, during a fifth day of strikes, firing Hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack afte
US intensifies attacks on Iran as Tehran hits back at Gulf states
Sixth day of fighting threatens to turn into all-out war and casts serious doubt on peace deal struck last month Chaos and confusion bring US no closer to resolution on strait of Hormuz Middle East crisis live – latest updates The US has intensified its attacks on Iran, hitting targets near Tehran and striking a ship it accused of trying to break its blockade, while Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at US allies in the region. Six consecutive days of back-and-forth attacks threaten t
US hits more bridges in Iran in expansion of its air strike campaign
The United States has expanded its air strike campaign against Iran by increasingly hitting bridges, part of President Donald Trump's threats to start striking infrastructure to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran attacks Gulf countries following fresh US strikes – Middle East crisis live
Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE reportedly came under attack as Tehran says it is closing Strait of Hormuz In a social media post , Qatar’s transport ministry urged all marine vessel owners and users to “temporarily suspend navigation and marine activities” until further notice. The ministry said the order was given in the interest of “public safety” and included pleasure boats, fishing boats and “water motorcycles” as the types of vessels that should suspend activities for the time bei
US strikes on Iran reportedly hit airport and bridges – Middle East crisis live
Iranshahr airport, southern rail station and two bridges attacked, Iranian media says US marines board tanker amid blockade of Iranian ports A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman near the strait of Hormuz, causing minor damage to the ship but no injuries to the crew, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said. In an alert issued this morning, the UKMTO said it received a report of an incident 19 nautical miles (about 22 miles) east of the Omani port city of
Iran launches attacks on American military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait after fresh US strikes – Middle East crisis live
US military says it hit dozens of Iranian sites in strikes on Monday while UN chief warns that a return to full-scale fighting would be ‘catastrophic’ US launches new attack wave on Iran as Tehran says diplomacy has proven ‘futile’ Traffic through the strait of Hormuz dropped sharply after Iran attacked a Cypriot-flagged container ship on Saturday, triggering an exchange of attacks with the US. There were only 14 crossings through the waterway on Sunday, according to data from maritime intellige
Middle East crisis live: US strikes Iran for third consecutive night; UAE says Tehran has hit tankers in strait of Hormuz
Just before the latest strikes Trump said Iran would be hit ‘very hard’; UAE says Iranian cruise missiles hit two oil tankers in strait, killing a crew member and wounding eight US launches third night of strikes on Iran as Trump announces Hormuz blockade Jordan’s military says it intercepted four missiles launched by Iran . Jordan hosts a number of US forces and aircraft. Continue reading...
Live: Trump backs down from 20 per cent Strait of Hormuz toll as US blockade looms
US President Donald Trump says he will not charge a 20 per cent toll on traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, just hours before the US Navy's blockade is set to resume.
US launches more Iran strikes after Trump orders new blockade of Strait of Hormuz, vows to charge fee
Donald Trump’s plan to charge ships to use the strait would be a marked departure from the US’ previous insistence that passage through the crucial waterway should be free and open for all.
US launches strikes on key Iranian island amid renewed threats
US Central Command said it launched a 90-minute attack targeting Iran's strategic Greater Tunb Island.