Iran warned that continued U.S. military strikes would delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the IRGC disabled two supertankers [1].
The escalation threatens one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, risking a global energy crisis if the waterway remains closed.
U.S. military strikes resumed on July 13, 2026 [4]. Gen. Michael Kurilla of U.S. Central Command said the military completed a five-hour mission targeting Iranian facilities in the region [3].
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported it had disabled two supertankers [1]. Iranian officials also linked the tensions to attacks on a Kuwait refinery and U.S. infrastructure in Bahrain [2].
Ali Bagheri, the Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said any further U.S. aggression will only postpone the reopening of the Hormuz waterway. IRGC Commander Ali Akbar Salehi said the Strait of Hormuz will never be opened through war and aggression.
Amid the blockade, Donald Trump announced a 20% cargo reimbursement for ships delayed by the closure [5]. This financial measure comes as Iran maintains that honoring its rights is the only path toward reopening the passage.
The IRGC continues to signal that the waterway's status is tied directly to the cessation of U.S. military operations in the region.
“"Any further US aggression will only postpone the reopening of the Hormuz waterway."”
The synchronization of U.S. kinetic strikes and Iranian naval disruptions creates a volatile feedback loop in the Persian Gulf. By linking the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to U.S. military restraint, Tehran is leveraging global energy security as a diplomatic tool to force a cessation of U.S. operations.
