US Reimposes Naval Blockade on Iran; Trump Threatens Strikes on Power Stations and Bridges

Amid ongoing clashes in the Persian Gulf between Iran's Revolutionary Guards and the US military, the United States reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports at 11:00 PM Tuesday, following President Donald Trump's announcement two days earlier. Shortly after the blockade took effect, Trump warned in a Fox News interview that if Tehran refuses to return to negotiations, Washington will launch attacks next week targeting Iranian bridges and power stations. He stated, "The attacks on Iran will continue until I say it's enough," adding that Iran still has some fighting capability but that US forces will reserve energy infrastructure as final targets.

During the night, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) completed a seven-hour series of strikes on dozens of Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s coast, including missile and drone facilities. The operations involved US fighter jets, drones, and naval vessels. Iran responded with missile launches targeting Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The Revolutionary Guards declared that military actions would continue and that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the US ceases its hostile activities. They claimed that US military actions have blocked sea routes and deprived the world of regional oil and gas supplies, prompting their retaliatory strikes on US Fifth Fleet fuel vessels in Bahrain.

CENTCOM released a statement confirming the renewed maritime blockade against Iranian ships departing from Iranian ports and coastal areas, noting the presence of over 20 US warships and hundreds of aircraft operating across the Middle East, with forces remaining alert and lethal. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected the blockade's effectiveness, stating Tehran has no current commitments regarding the Strait of Hormuz and that no agreement was reached with Oman on the strait. He accused the US of pressuring Oman to keep the strait open and warned against US attempts to force Iran into negotiations through the blockade.

Iranian President Masoud Pashaeian posted on X (formerly Twitter) that southern Iran has historically symbolized resistance to colonialism and independence, and that locals are enduring the difficult days caused by enemy aggression with patience and dignity. Earlier, Trump had declared on his social platform Truth Social that the strait remains open to all nations except Iran, imposing a 20% transit fee which he later replaced with trade and investment agreements with Gulf states. In a White House meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi, Trump said Iran rejected a deal that was nearly finalized, fired first, and has since faced strong US retaliation.