The U.S. launches another wave of strikes on Iran as the Hormuz standoff intensifies

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: launches another wave of strikes on Iran as the Hormuz standoff intensifies Updated July 15, 20263:56 PM ET Originally published July 15, 20265:56 AM ET By NPR Staff Ships are docked along a pier at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman on July 14, 2026. via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption via Getty Images The U. launched another wave of strikes on Iran on Wednesday after Iran threatened to block all oil exporting routes in the region in response to the U.

maritime blockade against Iran. "The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway vital to global commerce," said U. Central Command (CENTCOM).

The Details

State of the World from NPR The U. congressman detained by Israeli settlers in the West Bank Earlier Wednesday, a statement by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard said the U. "must expect other oil and gas export routes that serve the interests of the United States and its allies to be closed as well.

" "The region's oil and gas exports will either be available to everyone or to no one," said the statement carried by Iranian state media. Though it did not make a direct reference to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in the past Iran has threatened to close off the narrow passage at the entrance of the Red Sea, which links up to the Suez Canal as well as to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, providing passage to commercial vessels between Europe, Asia and Africa. Sponsor Message Middle East conflict The U.

is back to blockading Iran as the Strait of Hormuz standoff escalates The U. military said it began a wave of strikes on Wednesday morning "to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. " It said it launched a second wave of attacks at 3 p.

What Experts Say

The escalation raises the specter of a return to all-out war in the region, which began on Feb. and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The stepped up attacks have left their tentative ceasefire in tatters with no sign of progress toward a final deal to end the war.

This latest round followed back-and-forth strikes overnight as the U. military reimposed the blockade of vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports in the strait. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes targeting U.

military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. Brad Cooper, who commands U. Central Command, accused Iran of attacking seven commercial ships and launching missiles against Gulf countries.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.