U.S. restores Iran blockade, Tehran warns on oil

July 15, 2026

2–4 minutes

Summary

U.S. forces restored a blockade on Iran as Tehran warned it could halt regional energy exports.

Why this matters

The fighting and blockade involve the Strait of Hormuz, a major corridor for global oil and gas trade, with potential effects on energy prices and regional stability. The renewed exchanges also threaten already stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations.

The U.S. military reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and expanded airstrikes early Wednesday, including an attack on an Iranian army barracks that killed at least seven troops, Iranian state media and officials said.

The moves followed days of U.S. and Iranian strikes across the Middle East and renewed tension over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments.

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said more than 30 people had been killed in recent days, without giving details. Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour said more than 260 people were wounded Wednesday.

Iranian state television said a U.S. strike hit a barracks of Iran’s 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Bampour, in Sistan and Baluchestan province. It said at least 13 missiles were fired and that those killed included conscripts and career soldiers. The army said it would make “a decisive response to this aggressive action by the American enemy,” state TV reported.

The United States first imposed the blockade in mid-April and lifted it in mid-June, a day after signing an interim agreement that set a 60-day period for talks on issues including Iran’s nuclear program. Those talks have stalled as fighting around the strait intensified.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said Wednesday it could stop energy exports from the region because of the blockade.

“The export of oil and gas from the region will be either for everyone or for no one,” it said.

When President Donald Trump announced the blockade’s return Monday, he also said he would impose a 20% fee on ships passing through the strait. He later dropped that plan, saying Gulf allies had asked for a different arrangement involving investment in the United States.

“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,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

“Those Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them, and their future.” Trump gave no further details.

“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,” he wrote.

“Those Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them, and their future.” Trump gave no further details.

Speaking later in Washington after talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, Trump said, “I don’t like the concept of a fee, but at the same time, it’s not fair that we’re protecting this Strait for the entire world.” He said he changed course after receiving calls from Gulf leaders.

U.S. Central Command said the military struck dozens of targets over seven hours, including “coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites and maritime capabilities.”

“These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” the U.S. military said.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the command’s chief, said Iran had launched dozens of missiles and drones at neighboring Gulf Arab states.

Missile alerts sounded early Wednesday in Bahrain and Kuwait, which said they faced incoming Iranian fire. Jordan said it shot down three incoming Iranian missiles. Iran claimed attacks on all three countries.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, criticized the U.S. campaign.

“The U.S. is the aggressor, not the victim,” he wrote to the United Nations leader, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

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