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.