US Central Command (CENTCOM)

Shipping through Strait of Hormuz falls to lowest level in several weeks

Spread the love

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Iranian commercial ships are seen off the coast of Kong city in southern Iran on June 21, 2026. [Hassan Ghaedi – Anadolu Agency]

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell on Sunday to its lowest level in several weeks, according to shipping data, as renewed exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran and attacks on vessels heightened safety concerns.

Vessel tracking data from Kpler showed that only six ships passed through the strait on Sunday, the lowest daily total in five weeks.

The vessels included the very large crude carrier Humanity, carrying two million barrels of Iranian crude oil, and the tanker Capetan Andreas, transporting about 500,000 barrels of Kuwaiti refined oil products. Three empty tankers also entered the Gulf to load crude oil. Most tankers switched off their transponders while passing through the strait.

The tracking data showed no liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers entering the strait at the start of the week.

READ: Rezaei describes Strait of Hormuz as a strategic deterrent, says Iran will protect it

Kpler also reported that only one tanker operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) left the strait between 10 and 12 July, heading for the Indian port of Dahej.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday that its forces had completed another wave of strikes against Iran, targeting dozens of sites at multiple locations with precision-guided munitions.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remained open to commercial shipping, despite Iran’s earlier announcement that it had closed the waterway after a vessel travelled on an unauthorised route and came under attack.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that its naval forces had stopped two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz overnight by disabling their systems. The IRGC did not identify the two ships.

READ: Iran says latest US strikes “rendered futile” months of diplomatic efforts

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/

Climate science denier Donald Trump confirms that he knows nothing about democracy and that more liquid gold is being secured according to his policy of global privateering.
Climate science denier Donald Trump confirms that he knows nothing about democracy and that more liquid gold is being secured according to his policy of global privateering.
Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.
Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.
Continue ReadingShipping through Strait of Hormuz falls to lowest level in several weeks

CENTCOM says it completed another round of strikes on Iran

Spread the love

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced late Wednesday that it “completed an additional round of strikes against Iran,” hitting approximately 90 military targets, Anadolu reports.

“US forces struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets including air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline. The latest strikes follow successful execution of offensive strikes in Iran the night before,” CENTCOM wrote on the US social media platform X.

CENTCOM said the strikes were intended to “further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Earlier Wednesday, CENTCOM said that American forces had begun a new round of strikes against Iran.

“At the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” it said in a statement on X.

“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway,” the statement added.

READ: Oil prices rise following new US strikes on Iran

Meanwhile, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported that an explosion was heard in Iran’s southern city of Bandar Abbas on Wednesday evening.

The strikes came hours after US President Donald Trump said the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the war was “over” and that the US would “probably” hit Iran again Wednesday night.

A US official told CNN that the ceasefire with Iran “has at least temporarily ceased.”
“The US military is in a wait-and-see mode,” CNN reported, citing the official, adding that today’s targets were missiles and drones.

Another US official later told Axios that the current escalation could last a day or two, a week or a month, depending on whether Iran continues its attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re going to slap them a bit,” the official said, claiming that the current escalation stems from frustration among a part of the Iranian leadership who believe the deal with the US has not delivered real benefits for Tehran.

READ: Former Pakistani Air Force official says Israel does not want US-Iran agreement to succeed

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it's fun to kill everyone ... unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingCENTCOM says it completed another round of strikes on Iran

Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Ploy Aims to Manufacture ‘Pretext for Escalation,’ Iran Warns

Spread the love

Article by Jake Johnson republished from Common Dreams under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).

A cargo boat navigates the sea behind a mural depicting the shoreline on April 28, 2026 on Qeshm Island, Iran. (Photo by Asghar Besharati/Getty Images)

“Any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire,” said a member of the Iranian Parliament.

Iranian officials warned Sunday that US President Donald Trump’s newly announced plan to help “guide” stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz is an attempted provocation aimed at justifying additional military action against the Middle Eastern country.

An unnamed senior Iranian official told Drop Site that Trump’s plan, announced on Truth Social and confirmed by the US military, “is primarily intended to provoke Iran into taking an initial step toward confrontation, thereby creating a pretext for escalation and enabling him to justify further military action in response to an Iranian initiative.”

RECOMMENDED…

Escalating Attacks in Strait of Hormuz Risk Return to 'Full-Blown War'

Escalating Attacks in Strait of Hormuz Risk Return to ‘Full-Blown War’

U.S. Vice President JD Vance Leads U.S. Delegation In Peace Talks With Iran In Pakistan

‘Designed-to-Backfire’: Trump Slammed for Closure of Hormuz Strait as Iran Talks Falter

The official added that “our definitive position is that any commercial vessel attempting to transit through designated restricted routes without prior coordination will be promptly intercepted by Iranian forces.”

“Should US military vessels respond, such actions would be met with an immediate and corresponding response from Iran,” the official continued. “The US military vessels are far from the corridor area. If commercial vessels attempt to move, they would be engaged well before reaching any American ships,” the official added. “Trump has effectively turned them into bargaining tools in his political game.”

Ebrahim Azizi, who heads the national security commission of the Iranian Parliament, warned in response to Trump’s plan that “any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire” that took effect in early April.

“The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf would not be managed by Trump’s delusional posts,” Azizi added.

Trump wrote on his social media platform on Sunday that his administration has told countries with vessels stranded in the vital strait that “we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.” Iran closed the strait—through which around 25% of the world’s seaborne oil trade and a third of global fertilizer trade flows each year—in response to the US-Israeli war as well as the Trump administration’s naval blockade against Iran.

The US president characterized his plan, which is titled Project Freedom and set to take effect on Monday, as a “humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States,” but provided few details on how it would work.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Sunday that military support for Project Freedom would “include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 servicemembers.”

“Last week, the U.S. Department of State announced a new initiative, in partnership with the Department of War, to enhance coordination and information sharing among international partners in support of maritime security in the strait,” CENTCOM said. “The Maritime Freedom Construct aims to combine diplomatic action with military coordination, which will be critical during Project Freedom.”

Brian Finucane, senior adviser to the US Program at the International Crisis Group, wrote that CENTCOM’s statement makes the president’s plan “sound like information-sharing backed by a vague threat of military action.”

The president’s scheme drew immediate support from one of the most vocal boosters of the Iran war, US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who said he “totally” agrees with Trump’s decision to launch Project Freedom.

“I hope this conflict can end diplomatically,” said Graham, “but it is now time to regain freedom of navigation and forcefully respond to Iran if they insist on terrorizing the world.”

Article by Jake Johnson republished from Common Dreams under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).

Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it's fun to kill everyone ...
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone …

Continue ReadingTrump’s Strait of Hormuz Ploy Aims to Manufacture ‘Pretext for Escalation,’ Iran Warns

Trump says US destroyed, sank 9 Iranian naval ships, vows to sink ‘the rest’

Spread the love

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commences Operation Epic Fury, at the direction of the President of the United States in Tampa, Florida, United States on February 28, 2026. [US CENTCOM/Handout – Anadolu Agency]

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that US forces had destroyed and sunk nine Iranian naval vessels, including some he described as “relatively large and important”, Anadolu reports.

“We are going after the rest — they will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

In a separate attack, Trump said Iranian naval headquarters had been “largely destroyed,” adding with sarcasm: “Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!”

Earlier on Sunday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said US forces struck an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette in the Gulf of Oman.

READ: US forces hit Iranian warship in Gulf of Oman: Central Command

“The ship is currently sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman at a Chah Bahar pier,” the agency said on US social media company X.

“Abandon ship,” it said, relaying US President Donald Trump’s call for Iranian armed forces, the Revolutionary Guards and police to “lay down your weapons.”

Iran has not yet confirmed any of the strikes.

The announcement came as US-Israeli strikes on Iran entered a second day. The joint operation, launched Saturday, killed several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting several Gulf countries.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that state institutions remained intact and that a new supreme leader could be chosen shortly.

READ: US, Israeli strikes hit parts of Iran’s state television headquarters in Tehran

Orcas discuss Donald Trump and the killer apes' concept of democracy. Front Orca warns that Trump is crashing his country's economy and that everything he does he does for the fantastically wealthy.
Orcas discuss Donald Trump and the killer apes’ concept of democracy. Front Orca warns that Trump is crashing his country’s economy and that everything he does he does for the fantastically wealthy.
Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn't bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is enough.
Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn’t bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is enough.
Orcas discuss rotting brain. Front Orca says "Wish someone would lock him up".
Orcas discuss rotting brain. Front Orca says “Wish someone would lock him up”.

Continue ReadingTrump says US destroyed, sank 9 Iranian naval ships, vows to sink ‘the rest’

US strikes Iran’s ballistic missile facilities with B-2 stealth bombers: CENTCOM

Spread the love

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

One B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber flies over the beaches of Miami Beach, during the Air Show as part of the memorial day celebration in Miami, United State on May 24, 2025. [Jesus Olarte/Anadolu via Getty Images]

US B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran’s “hardened ballistic missile facilities” overnight, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday, Anadolu reports.

The bombers were armed with 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) bombs during the operation, CENTCOM said on US social media company X.

It marks the second major deployment of B-2 stealth bombers against Iran. Last June, the aircraft were used to strike Iran’s three main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan during the 12-day Israel-Iran war, strikes Trump has credited with obliterating Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The latest strikes are part of the joint US-Israeli military campaign launched Saturday that has killed several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf countries.

Three US service members have been killed and five seriously wounded since operations began.

READ: Israel launches ‘preemptive’ strike on Iran as explosions rock Tehran

Orcas discuss Donald Trump and the killer apes' concept of democracy. Front Orca warns that Trump is crashing his country's economy and that everything he does he does for the fantastically wealthy.
Orcas discuss Donald Trump and the killer apes’ concept of democracy. Front Orca warns that Trump is crashing his country’s economy and that everything he does he does for the fantastically wealthy.
Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn't bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is enough.
Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn’t bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is enough.
Orcas discuss rotting brain. Front Orca says "Wish someone would lock him up".
Orcas discuss rotting brain. Front Orca says “Wish someone would lock him up”.

Continue ReadingUS strikes Iran’s ballistic missile facilities with B-2 stealth bombers: CENTCOM