President Trump announced on July 13 that the US military will reimpose a naval blockade on Iranian vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, effective 4 p.m. ET on July 14. Brent crude immediately surged past $85 per barrel, hitting a one-month high.
For context, roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes through this 21-mile-wide waterway every single day.
What’s actually happening in the strait
This isn’t the first time the US has locked down Hormuz this year. A previous blockade went into effect on April 13 as part of the ongoing 2026 Iran conflict, but it was partially lifted after a short-lived ceasefire.
Now Trump is bringing it back, announcing the move via Truth Social. CENTCOM has framed the operation as part of a larger strategy to reassert control over the strait.
