US launches third night of strikes on Iran as Trump announces Hormuz blockade

The United States has carried out air strikes against targets in Iran for the third consecutive night, according to the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM). The command said the latest wave of strikes was launched "at the Commander in Chief's direction," targeting multiple locations inside Iran. At the same time, President Donald Trump announced that Washington would reinstate a naval blockade on Iran and, in what several outlets described as an apparent policy reversal, begin charging ships fees for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement marks a notable shift, given that the United States had previously championed free passage through the strategically vital waterway as a matter of international interest.

The renewed strikes come amid an escalating military confrontation that has unfolded over several days. The night before, American and Iranian forces had already exchanged strikes, according to Sputnik, with CENTCOM describing attacks on "dozens of targets at multiple locations" using precision munitions. According to reporting from the New York Times, the ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran in June has effectively collapsed, with both sides reverting to a state of open conflict resembling the situation before the truce was reached.

CENTCOM justified the continued strikes by stating that they would "continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," a statement quoted by multiple outlets, including The Guardian and Hespress English. The available reporting does not provide reliable figures on the number of targets struck, potential casualties, or the extent of damage on the Iranian side.

Trump's own public statements reflected a mixed approach. While announcing the blockade and new transit fees for Hormuz, he simultaneously emphasized, according to several sources including TRT World and Channel News Asia, that a deal with Tehran remained "possible." He also called on Gulf nations to reimburse the United States for helping protect the Strait of Hormuz. This combination of military pressure, economic calculation, and stated openness to diplomacy characterizes his public messaging during this phase of the conflict.

Iran's response, according to France24, included a mocking counter-announcement: Tehran reportedly said it would charge a lower fee for passage through the Strait of Hormuz than the rate announced by the United States. This can be read as a symbolic rebuttal to Trump's blockade and fee announcement, though it remains unclear how such a measure could be practically enforced, since Iran does not hold sole control over the international waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world's most important shipping routes, through which a substantial share of global oil and gas transport passes. Any announcement of blockades, fees, or military action in the region therefore carries immediate relevance for global energy markets and international shipping. Analysts such as Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former State Department Middle East analyst, were consulted by France24 on the implications of US policy, though the available reporting does not offer a clear assessment of how the situation is likely to develop.

Several questions remain unanswered in current reporting: how long the strikes will continue, what specific military targets may be prioritized next, and whether renewed diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran are likely. The practical implementation of the announced blockade and the proposed transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz also remains unclear. Other outlets, including NDTV and India Today, largely confirm the fact of a third consecutive night of strikes without providing further detail on targets or casualties.

The international community is likely to watch developments closely, given that further escalation in the Persian Gulf could have significant consequences for global energy supplies and regional security. At the same time, the mixed signals coming from Washington—military pressure on one hand, continued emphasis on diplomatic openness on the other—suggest that the trajectory of the conflict remains uncertain. The coming days may reveal whether the situation continues to escalate or whether new negotiations between the parties involved begin to take shape.