Tom HousdenUpdated July 15, 2026 — 12:36pm,first published July 15, 2026 — 5:12amHere’s what we covered todayBy We’re ending our live coverage as the US military announces it has completed another round of strikes on Iran. Here’s what we coveredThe US has resumed its blockade on vessels accessing Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz from early this morning AEST, US Central Command (Centcom) said.At the same time, Centcom said it had begun launching further strikes to “continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz”.President Donald Trump said the strikes would continue “until I say it’s enough” and warned the US could target Iran’s bridges and power plants next week.Iran responded with its own attacks targeting Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, as well as two tankers associated with the United Arab Emirates travelling through the strait, killing an Indian sailor and wounding eight others.Trump earlier backed away from his proposed 20 per cent fee on cargo for ships passing through the strait, saying that Middle Eastern countries will instead make investment and trade deals with the US.Latest Posts12.36pm on Jul 15, 2026US completes latest strikes, Centcom saysBy US Central Command (Centcom) says it has completed its latest round of strikes on Iran, hitting dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal areas.“Fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels launched precision munitions against Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and coastal defence systems during the seven-hour wave to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews,” a Centcom statement said.The fourth consecutive night of strikes coincided with the resumption of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas, which took effect at 6am AEST.This concludes our coverage for today. We’ll be back with rolling live coverage again tomorrow morning.12.10pm on Jul 15, 2026Analysis: Trump’s Hormuz thought bubble didn’t last longBy Michael KoziolDonald Trump’s preposterous proposal to take control of the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20 per cent toll for the privilege of crossing safely lasted all of 24 hours.It was always a non-starter – for one thing, a 20 per cent charge on the value of a ship’s cargo was a silly number, plucked from nowhere. It would have added $US20 ($29) to a barrel of oil overnight.Tankers and cargo vessels anchored off Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman.Getty ImagesTrump now says the US will protect the strait, but Gulf countries that heavily depend on it – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain – will invest more in the US to cover the costs of that protection.Well, we’ll see. Nonetheless, this thought bubble – which Trump has actually raised several times, as far back as April 6, at a White House news conference – will have a legacy beyond its brief life.Read more from Michael Koziol11.16am on Jul 15, 2026Bahrain and Kuwait targeted by IranBy Both Bahrain and Kuwait have come under attack as Iran retaliates over the latest wave of US strikes and the reimposed blockade.Kuwait’s military said on X it was confronting “hostile drone attacks” from Iran and said any explosion sounds heard were from air defence systems. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry urged people to remain calm and head to safety as sirens have been sounded.Iran’s ​Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted weapons and storage facilities in both countries. Iran’s army said early on Wednesday that it had launched drone attacks against American positions at Jordan’s Azraq base. There was no immediate comment from the Pentagon.Reuters10.27am on Jul 15, 2026Trump threatens to target Iran’s bridges and power plantsBy In his Fox News interview earlier, Donald Trump said more US strikes against Iran are coming over the next two days and warned that bridges and power plants could be targeted next week unless negotiations resumed.“We’re going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We’re going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate”.The 1949 Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in war prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for civilians.Trump pictured in the Oval Office on Tuesday.BloombergThe president suggested he wasn’t interested in continuing talks immediately with Iran because “they lie”. But he also said his last contact with negotiators was earlier in the day.Trump said American forces had been careful not to harm the civilian population but warned Iran: “You better make a deal, or you’re not going to have anything left.”Reuters, AP10.01am on Jul 15, 2026US sanctions target Iranian shipping networkBy The US has imposed new sanctions aimed at boosting efforts to disrupt an Iranian shipping network that Washington says helps to evade previous sanctions on oil sales and other activities.The measures imposed on the network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani represent the US Treasury’s latest effort to ramp up economic pressure on Tehran, the department said.The Shamkhani network is a “major force behind Iran’s oil exports and has expanded into global containerised shipping and commodities trading”, the Treasury said.The US sanctions target a major Iranian trading network.AFPTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his department was “shutting down the financial infrastructure that allows the regime to continue its threats to US national security and global shipping”.9.40am on Jul 15, 2026MAP: Latest US strikes on IranBy The US military earlier confirmed it had launched further strikes on Iran for a fourth consecutive day.Iranian state media said the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas had been hit, along with several locations near the coastal city of Sirik. The governor’s office of Qeshm Island, in the Strait of Hormuz, said it was struck by a US projectile about 7pm on Tuesday (1.30am Wednesday, AEST).On Tuesday, Centcom said it had struck a range of targets in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas.Reuters9.15am on Jul 15, 2026Iran has attacked seven commercial ships, Centcom commander saysBy In a statement posted to social media, US Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said American forces were responding to what he described as “unwarranted aggression” against commercial shipping.“Over the past seven days, Iran has intentionally targeted civilians across the region by attacking seven commercial ships, resulting in nearly a dozen civilian crew members killed, missing or injured. Iranian forces have also launched dozens of missiles and drones towards neighbouring Gulf countries. US forces are holding Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression that continues to endanger innocent lives.“9.08am on Jul 15, 2026Kuwait strikes worst since airport attackBy Four Kuwaiti Navy personnel were injured in the latest wave of attacks on the Gulf state, which remains a key target for Iran as the US blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas resumes and regional tensions escalate.Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence said the assaults involved five cruise missiles and one ballistic missile as well as 33 drones. That marked the highest number of projectiles and injuries on any given day since the country’s international airport was attacked for the second time last month, killing one person and injuring more than 60.Smoke billows from an oil facility in Kuwait after an Iranian airstrike.AFPThe strikes on Tuesday concentrated on a number of “vital” and civilian institutions, the army said, without providing details. It said debris fell in different locations, resulting in damage, and that the four defence personnel were hurt when a Kuwaiti navy ship was struck.Kuwait has been one of the worst-hit countries in the region during the war, with its military bases, oil refineries, the headquarters of Kuwait Petroleum Corp, the airport and other critical infrastructure coming under assault multiple times.Bloomberg8.59am on Jul 15, 2026WATCH: US aircraft take off from USS George H.W. BushBy 8.30am on Jul 15, 2026Strikes will continue ‘until I say it’s enough’: TrumpBy President Donald Trump has said strikes on Iran “will continue until I say it’s enough”.In an interview on Fox News’ Special Report, Trump said Iran’s military capacity had been “degraded,” but “they still have some fight left”. The president said strikes would continue on Tuesday evening (Wednesday AEST), and said he anticipated additional attacks potentially into next week.Trump speaks in the Oval Office on Tuesday. BloombergReuters1 of 3