US resumes Iran ports blockade as Gulf attacks continue: What’s the latest?

What Happened

The United States reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and launched a new wave of strikes, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. CENTCOM stated that at approximately 02:00 GMT on Wednesday, US fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels struck 'dozens of military targets' near the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal areas, with attacks lasting seven hours and targeting missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and coastal defence systems. Iranian state media reported that US missiles hit a civilian naval watchtower in Chabahar and a military base in Bampur, Sistan and Baluchestan province. Iran’s Ministry of Health said more than 260 people were injured in the overnight attacks, and Tehran claimed over 30 civilians were killed. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it launched drone and missile attacks on US military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence reported that Iranian attacks hit a Kuwaiti Naval Force vessel, wounding four personnel. Jordan’s military said its air defences intercepted and downed four Iranian ballistic missiles that breached its airspace. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi declared a recent memorandum of understanding with the US no longer valid, while the IRGC threatened to halt all energy exports from the Middle East. The US Department of the Treasury also sanctioned several cryptocurrency wallets linked to the Central Bank of Iran, freezing more than $130 million.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The reimposition of a US naval blockade and heavy strikes on Iranian territory, combined with IRGC retaliation across three Gulf states, represents a dramatic escalation of direct military confrontation. The attacks threaten to choke the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint, and could draw regional nations further into the conflict. The collapse of the peace MoU and the IRGC’s threat to halt all Middle Eastern energy exports signal a breakdown of diplomacy, raising the risk of a prolonged and widening war with severe economic repercussions.

Watch For

Monitor CENTCOM announcements for additional strike waves or blockade adjustments; watch for further IRGC or Iranian military attacks on US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, or Iraq; track potential emergency sessions of the UN Security Council after Iran’s letter to the Secretary-General; watch for disruptions to commercial shipping or energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz; and note any IAEA emergency meeting or Iranian nuclear posture shifts as tensions mount.