U.S. reimposes blockade and steps up strikes as Iran threatens to halt all energy exports from the region

By — Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-reimposes-blockade-and-steps-up-strikes-as-iran-threatens-to-halt-all-energy-exports-from-the-region Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter U.S. reimposes blockade and steps up strikes as Iran threatens to halt all energy exports from the region World Jul 15, 2026 11:23 AM EDT DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and intensified its airstrike campaign Wednesday in retaliation for Tehran's attacks on ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The American strikes hit an Iranian army barracks, killed at least seven troops and wounded more than 260 people across the country, Iranian officials said. Days of back-and-forth strikes by the U.S. and Iran across the Middle East — and renewed threats to the waterway crucial to global energy supplies — have shredded the interim deal to end the conflict and the region could tip back into all-out war. WATCH: Middle East experts assess latest escalation in U.S.-Iran conflict The U.S. first imposed a blockade in April and then lifted it last month after signing the interim deal that paused the fighting and set a 60-day period for negotiations over issues such as Iran's nuclear program. Those talks have stalled as fighting over the Strait of Hormuz has intensified. When the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran effectively closed the waterway to shipping traffic — a move that sent the price of oil, fertilizer and many other goods soaring far beyond the region and gave Iran major leverage in negotiations. Those rising prices pose a particular challenge to U.S. President Donald Trump and his Republican Party, which hopes to retain control of Congress in elections in November. But Washington has struggled to successfully reopen the waterway. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard threatened Wednesday to halt all energy exports from the Middle East over the blockade. "The export of oil and gas from the region will be either for everyone or for no one," it said. Both the US and Iran launch attacks as the blockade is reimposed The U.S. carried out a wave of strikes, hitting dozens of targets overnight, the military's Central Command said Wednesday, and then resumed striking Iran during daylight — an unusual move that further signaled the increasing tempo of the attacks. Within 17 hours of reimposing the blockade on Iranian ports, Central Command said U.S. forces had "redirected" two commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade. "The U.S. military remains vigilant and prepared to ensure full compliance," it said on social media. Among the U.S. military's targets was Greater Tunb Island, which is viewed as a strategic point in the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command said the attack targeted Iranian defense and missile sites. Iran took control of three islands — A