Iran War Updates: Oil back near $95 a barrel as U.S. insists Strait of Hormuz is open despite attacks on ships
Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate as Trump Vows Retaliation for Ship Attacks
Bizeconanalysis.com – Washington's response to escalating maritime hostilities intensified on Wednesday when President Trump announced a new policy targeting Iranian infrastructure. The administration declared that each subsequent assault on commercial vessels navigating the critical waterway would trigger the destruction of either a bridge or power facility within Iran.
"From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran," Mr. Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Missile Strike on Larak Island
Hostilities continued to intensify as a U.S. missile struck the Iranian island of Larak, situated within the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, which maintains close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, confirmed the attack occurred at 2:48 pm local time.
According to Tasnim's report, residents on the island heard a significant explosion following the American missile impact. The agency noted that Iranian authorities are currently conducting investigations to assess the full extent of damage and pinpoint the exact location where the missile made contact.
Maritime Traffic Concerns Mount
Despite American military assurances that the vital shipping corridor remains accessible, commercial traffic has declined sharply. The U.S. Central Command reported that Iranian forces have targeted more than thirty commercial vessels over the preceding three-month period.
The Joint Maritime Information Center, a Bahrain-based military partnership including American participation, documented that commercial vessel movements reached their lowest point in three weeks on Tuesday. CBS News monitoring revealed only three commercial ships—two cargo carriers and the Chinese-owned tanker Hsin Ocean—successfully navigated the strait that day.
Analysis from Lloyd's List indicated that between July 13 and 19, merely two vessels utilized the American-backed southern route along Oman's coastline. Both transits were conducted in darkness, with ships having deactivated their Automatic Identification System broadcast capabilities.
Regional Powers Express Concern
Pakistan's government issued a statement Wednesday expressing deep alarm over Iranian efforts to involve Saudi Arabia in the broader Middle Eastern conflict. The Pakistani foreign ministry condemned threats directed at the Saudi kingdom and Red Sea shipping lanes by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Islamabad, which established a mutual defense agreement with Riyadh just last year, emphasized its steadfast backing for Saudi security, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and economic prosperity. The statement further warned that any aggressive action against Pakistani-flagged ships or maritime assets would constitute a serious threat to Pakistan's national security.
"There's nothing physically obstructing the navigation of any vessel willing to transit the strait, and there are vessels that trade locally and are entirely unaffected by everything that's going on; however, if we're talking about large ocean-going, internationally-owned and operated merchant vessels, nothing is going through," Maniatis told CBS News on Wednesday.
IRGC Claims Southern Route Blocked
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted on Wednesday that despite crew efforts, no vessel had ventured through the southern passage of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday night. This route, promoted by American forces, allows ships to bypass Iranian toll collection zones.
Dimitris Maniatis, chief executive of the Greek maritime risk management firm Marisks, explained that ship operators have grown reluctant to traverse the strait following the deterioration of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.
Jordan Defends Against Iranian Missiles
Meanwhile, Jordan's armed forces announced that the Kingdom successfully intercepted four Iranian missiles on Wednesday, with two additional projectiles landing in unpopulated regions. A Jordanian military source stated that the Kingdom detected and engaged all six incoming missiles immediately upon their entry into Jordanian airspace.
U.S. Central Command reiterated its position on Tuesday evening that the Strait of Hormuz continues to accommodate commercial vessel traffic despite Iranian aggression. The command acknowledged that over thirty Iranian attacks on commercial ships have endangered hundreds of seafarers and weakened freedom of navigation in the region.