US Central Command reinstates maritime blockade on Iranian ports

The US Central Command announced on 14 July that it is resuming a maritime blockade targeting vessels entering and leaving Iranian ports. The measure, communicated via social media, is scheduled to take effect from 5:00 am Japan time on 15 July. To enforce the restriction, the command has deployed more than 20 naval vessels to the Middle East region.

This decision marks a significant reversal of the preliminary deal signed in mid-June, which had previously ended fighting and lifted a blockade. The resumption of hostilities coincides with reports of escalating violence in the region, including explosions on Iranian islands of Qeshm and Kish, as well as attacks in Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Mahshahr, and Abadan. Kuwait has also confirmed that its armed forces are engaging with aerial targets, while further incidents have been reported in Bahrain, Jordan, and on vessels within the Strait of Hormuz.

Prior to this escalation, former President Donald Trump had proposed a transit fee for maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the plan was abandoned following calls from Gulf leaders who offered alternative investment deals in the United States in lieu of the fee. At the time, Trump asserted that oil was "flowing like never before" due to US military power, a claim that was contradicted by subsequent market data.

Despite earlier denials from the US Central Command that the waterway was fully closed, Iranian military command had previously threatened to target any ship transiting the Strait, declaring it closed to all traffic. While commercial ships were reported to continue transiting, the current deployment of naval assets signals a hardening of the US position and a return to restrictive maritime policies.

The geopolitical shift has had immediate economic repercussions. Benchmark Brent Crude oil prices have risen sharply, undermining narratives of unimpeded energy flow. Shipping data indicates that traffic through the Strait has slowed to a two-month low, suggesting that the renewed blockade and regional instability are already impacting global supply chains.