U.S. reinstates naval blockade, strikes Iran for fourth day

The United States reimposed a full naval blockade on Iranian ports and conducted a fourth consecutive day of airstrikes against Iran on July 14, 2026, sharply escalating a military conflict centered on the strategic Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump warned that U.S. attacks would intensify, explicitly threatening to strike critical civilian infrastructure like power plants and bridges starting the week of July 20 if Tehran refuses to return to negotiations.

U.S. Central Command stated the latest wave of strikes, which lasted seven hours and concluded around 10 p.m. Eastern Time, targeted dozens of Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz and coastal areas. Officials said the operation aimed to degrade capabilities used to attack commercial shipping. Concurrently, the naval blockade was reinstated, restricting all vessel traffic to and from Iranian ports. A senior U.S. military official stated that over the past week, Iran has attacked seven commercial ships, resulting in nearly a dozen crew members killed, missing, or injured.

Iran responded with cross-border attacks early on July 15. Its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed missile and drone strikes on...