US Strikes Iran for Third Night as Iranian Missiles Kill Tanker Crewman in Hormuz

The United States launched strikes on Iran for a third consecutive night early Tuesday, as Iran responded by attacking two Emirati tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member and wounding eight others. These Iran strikes have intensified the ongoing conflict in the region.

US Launches Third Night of Strikes on Iran

US Central Command announced strikes at 2045 GMT that will continue imposing costs on Iranian forces and degrading their ability to attack civilians and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. [1] President Trump stated the US is reinstating a blockade on Iranian ports, will act as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT' and charge a 20 percent fee on cargo from other countries for safe passage. [2] US Central Command announced on social media that the US military had begun another round of strikes against Iran. [1] “These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” the US military said. [1] Moments after the military announced the new strikes, Trump called it “another major attack.” [1] “We’re hitting them very hard. And it’ll continue, and we’ll see what happens,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. [1] “We’re knocking out all of their offensive capability and we’re controlling the straits. We’re putting the blockade back.” [1] Trump also provided new details on his administration doing an about-face and suggesting it will charge tolls for ships going through the strait. [1] “We’re protecting a very rich portion of the world,” he said. [1] “We’re spending money. And so, what we’ve done is, we are going to be reimbursed for protection.” [1] CENTCOM announced strikes had begun at 2045 GMT, the third consecutive night of attacks. [2] "These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said. [2] "We're going to hit them very hard tonight, and we're going to hit them hard tomorrow," Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday. [2]

Iranian Missile Attacks on Tankers in Hormuz

Iranian cruise missiles struck the tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah in Omani territorial waters, setting them ablaze though fires were later extinguished; one Indian mariner was killed and six Indians plus two Ukrainians were wounded. [1] The United Arab Emirates’ Defense Ministry said early Tuesday that Iran attacked two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one mariner and wounding eight others. [1] The Emirati Defense Ministry said Iran launched two cruise missiles at the tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah. [1] The attacks set both tankers ablaze, though the fires were extinguished. [1] The Emirati Defense Ministry said the attack on the tankers killed one Indian national and wounded six Indians and two Ukrainians. [1] One Indian crew member was killed and eight others were wounded when two Emirati oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence said Tuesday. [4] The ministry said the tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were targeted in the southern lane of the strait while in Omani territorial waters. [5] The dead crew member was aboard the Mombasa. [5] Of the eight wounded, four were seriously injured. [5] Six of the wounded were Indian nationals and two were Ukrainian nationals, the ministry said. [5] The attack caused material damage to both tankers after fires broke out on board. [5] The ministry said the fires had been brought under control. [5]

Trump Announces Blockade and Tolls in Strait

President Trump stated the US is reinstating a blockade on Iranian ports, will act as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT' and charge a 20 percent fee on cargo from other countries for safe passage. [1] CENTCOM, following Trump's orders, announced it would reimpose a blockade on Iranian ports beginning at 2000 GMT on Tuesday. [2] In a post on Truth Social, the president declared the United States would be "known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT'" and levy a 20 percent fee on all cargo shipped through the waterway. [2] While Iran's ports would again be blockaded, Trump said "all other countries will have fair and open use of the strait." [2] Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi immediately mocked Trump's toll threat, writing on X that "POTUS is absolutely right" that whoever guarantees safe passage should be compensated - but that Tehran would charge less. [2] "20% is of course too much," he said. [2]

Regional Retaliation and Alerts

The UAE condemned the tanker attacks and reserved its right to respond, while Bahrain activated missile alert sirens following renewed Iranian strikes with no immediate reports of damage or casualties. [1] Bahrain also came under renewed attack early Tuesday morning as Iran retaliated over the latest round of US airstrikes. [1] Bahrain sounded its missile alert siren, urging the public to seek shelter. [1] There was no word on any damage or casualties from the attack. [1] “The UAE reserves its full right to respond to this escalation and to take all necessary measures to protect its territory, its citizens and residents,” the Defense Ministry added. [1] Fighter jets could be heard overheard Tuesday morning in Dubai. [1] Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck US military targets and bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, state media reported. [2] Iran insists it only targets US interests in the Gulf, but the spokesman for its military command said any collaboration by Gulf countries with the United States would be considered "an act of war." [2]

Oil Price Surge and Economic Impact

Oil prices rose sharply, with benchmark Brent crude up more than 7.8 percent to $81.92 a barrel amid fears of renewed conflict disrupting the waterway that carried a fifth of global oil and gas in peacetime. [1] The price of benchmark Brent crude oil rose 7.8% to $81.92 a barrel, still well below the nearly $120 reached at the height of the war but threatening to make costs everywhere higher. [1] Oil prices shot up more than nine percent over fears of renewed conflict. [2] Before the conflict began in February, around a fifth of the world's oil and gas traffic passed through Hormuz daily. [5]

Status of US-Iran Deal and Further Threats

Trump said the US would guard the Hormuz strait, as he threatened to blow up the Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear site near Natanz. [2] "Tell the Iranians to be ready. Let them know we're coming (and) there's not a damn thing they can do about it," he told Hewitt. [2] Despite all signs to the contrary, Trump said Monday that a deal with Tehran to end the Middle East war was still possible. [2] "Yeah, I think a deal is possible. Sure, I do," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. [2] "We had a deal with them two days ago and then they said 'Oh we can't make that deal. We have to negotiate it further.'" [2] Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier Monday that the June memorandum of understanding that formed the basis for the negotiations and lifted the US blockade was "in crisis." [2] Baghaei said Iran would ignore its obligations under the deal if the Washington did the same, but added that Tehran was continuing talks with mediators from Qatar, Pakistan and Oman to prevent further escalation. [2]

What to watch next: Iranian state media reported deaths in the latest US strikes, which it said targeted large areas across the south and west, with at least four explosions heard Monday east of Bandar Abbas. [2] At least 25 people have been killed in Iran since hostilities resumed last week. [2]