The United States military carried out a fresh round of airstrikes against Iran on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive day of bombardment, as the Pentagon moved to reimpose a naval blockade in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to The Hill that American forces executed a limited number of additional strikes on military targets inside Iran, describing the action as a response to what the administration called “emerging threats” from Tehran.
The strikes came just hours after President Donald Trump reversed course on a proposed 20 percent tolling fee for cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz—a plan he floated Monday but quickly abandoned. Instead, Trump signaled he would pivot to negotiating trade and investment agreements with Gulf Arab states, a move that appeared aimed at shoring up regional alliances as the crisis escalates. The White House has not provided details on the scope of those talks.
The U.S. Navy is set to reinstate a full blockade of the strait at 4 p.m. EDT Tuesday, according to U.S. Central Command. The blockade, which was lifted last month, will apply to all vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports, as well as any ship carrying Iranian cargo. Trump announced the move earlier Tuesday on Truth Social, writing: “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.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, with roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil passing through its waters. The reimposition of the blockade threatens to disrupt global oil markets and inflame tensions with Iran, which has repeatedly warned it would retaliate against any attempt to restrict its maritime trade. The move follows a series of escalating exchanges between Washington and Tehran, including renewed U.S. strikes on Iran after Trump threatened a “big attack.”
On Monday, the U.S. military struck dozens of Iranian military installations across multiple provinces, including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas. Those strikes were part of a broader campaign that, over the past week, has seen four separate rounds of U.S. airstrikes hitting more than 300 targets in southern Iran. The Pentagon has described the operations as precision strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to launch attacks on U.S. forces and allies in the region.
Iranian forces retaliated Monday by targeting two United Arab Emirates tankers in the strait with cruise missiles, the UAE Ministry of Defense confirmed. The attack underscored the widening scope of the conflict, drawing in Gulf states that have sought to maintain neutrality. The UAE has not announced any military response, but the incident has heightened fears of a broader regional war.
The latest U.S. strikes come amid a volatile political backdrop. Trump had declared a ceasefire with Iran dead just days earlier, and his administration has unleashed precision strikes as part of a strategy to pressure Tehran into concessions. Critics argue the blockade and continued bombing risk alienating key allies and triggering a humanitarian crisis in Iran, while supporters insist the moves are necessary to counter Iranian aggression and protect global shipping lanes.
Iran has vowed to respond to what it calls “unprovoked aggression,” and analysts warn that the reimposition of the blockade could lead to further attacks on commercial vessels or U.S. naval assets in the region. The situation remains fluid, with both sides signaling no immediate path to de-escalation.
