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US strikes first tanker with missiles as it enforces new blockade
The US has attacked an oil tanker in the Gulf as it reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, marking a sharp escalation days after President Donald Trump had declared a ceasefire "over" following renewed attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said the tanker Belma ignored repeated warnings while heading towards Iran's key Kharg Island export terminal, prompting an aircraft to disable it by firing Hellfire missiles into its smokestack. The strike signals Washington's intent to enforce the blockade forcefully, reviving a confrontation that had briefly eased under a ceasefire deal.
The blockade, first imposed between 13 April and 18 June, previously saw the US redirect more than 140 vessels and disable nine ships; it was lifted alongside key sanctions under a 17 June ceasefire, during which Iran is estimated to have exported at least 74 million barrels of oil worth over $6bn. Besides striking Belma, Centcom redirected two other vessels that complied with instructions, while a separate sanctioned tanker, Fuyao, reversed course back into Iranian waters. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has since fallen sharply, with just 11 vessels crossing on Wednesday compared with a pre-conflict average of 138 a day.
In short
- US missile-strikes Iran-bound tanker as blockade resumes
- Trump ended ceasefire after fresh attacks on Gulf shipping
- Strait of Hormuz crossings have plunged well below normal levels
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those supporting the blockade argue that Iran's attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz represent intolerable threats to global commerce and the principle of freedom of navigation in international waters. They contend that Iran violated the ceasefire agreement through renewed strikes, forcing Washington to respond decisively and demonstrating resolve to protect vital shipping lanes and maintain credible deterrence. The blockade, they argue, is a legitimate coercive tool to incentivise Iranian compliance with international norms and negotiations, comparable to sanctions employed in many diplomatic disputes.
The case against
Critics argue that blockades constitute collective punishment with severe humanitarian consequences for civilian populations dependent on fuel, food, and medical imports, raising serious questions about proportionality and international law. They contend that escalatory military strikes risk spiralling into broader regional conflict and that the US pattern of withdrawing from agreements undermines stability and drives Iranian retaliation. From this view, dialogue and negotiation remain preferable to military enforcement, and Iran's actions may themselves constitute defensive responses to perceived threats from the US and allied powers.
Explained simply
The United States and Iran have been in escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf region. Earlier this year, the US imposed a naval blockade that prevented oil tankers from reaching Iranian ports.
On 17 June, the two countries agreed a ceasefire deal. The US lifted its blockade and eased economic sanctions, whilst Iran agreed to stop attacking merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman where much of the world's oil is shipped.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical shipping lanes, with about one-fifth of global oil supplies passing through it each day. Any disruption there affects international oil prices and supplies, making military escalations in the region a matter of economic concern worldwide.