The US military is back to blocking Iranian ports. US Central Command announced on July 13 that a naval blockade would resume on July 14, 2026, at approximately 4pm ET, ending a roughly 60-day ceasefire that began when the prior enforcement was lifted on June 18. The move applies to all shipping traffic regardless of flag.
What’s happening and why it matters
This is the second operational phase of the blockade in 2026. The first ran from April 13 to June 18, during which the US military disabled at least nine vessels for violations, with fatalities reported. Iran’s crude exports sat at approximately 1.84 million barrels per day as of March 2026, and the prior blockade reportedly cost the country hundreds of millions to billions of dollars in daily oil revenue.
The renewed enforcement follows a breakdown of the Islamabad Talks, which were tied to the broader 2026 Iran conflict.
President Trump has framed the US as the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz, roughly 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. He’s also proposed a security charge of 20% of a commercial ship’s cargo value for transit through the area.
