July 14, 2026 – Present · Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman Theater
July 14, 2026 – Present
The United States first blockaded Iranian ports on April 13, 2026, lifted the blockade on June 18 after the Islamabad memorandum, and reinstated it on July 14 when the ceasefire collapsed. CENTCOM reported 135 ships diverted between July 14 and October 10. Ships that refused to turn back were disabled — the empty tanker Belma by Hellfire missiles on its first day, others in July, August and October — and in September the empty tankers Kylo and Riesco were sunk. On August 19 the governor of Iran's central bank said oil exports had effectively ceased, and on October 16 CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the blockade had halted about $25 billion in Iranian crude exports. Iran, for its part, said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the blockade was lifted, and its Revolutionary Guard continued to claim attacks on shipping. Brent crude was above $110 a barrel on October 22.
Commanders