The United States conducted further strikes against Iranian targets during the night leading up to Wednesday. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the operation hit dozens of military sites in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz and within Iranian coastal areas. The stated objective of these attacks is to continue weakening Iran’s capacity to threaten maritime traffic and civilian populations. In response, Iran has conducted attacks targeting US interests in the region.
US military forces have resumed their blockade against vessels that approach Iranian ports and coastal regions. Conversely, Iran has threatened to enforce a blockade on energy exports from the area.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump had plans to impose a levy on trade passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but he subsequently retracted this plan. On Tuesday, Trump reported that, based on “extremely fruitful discussions with leading representatives of the Middle East,” he decided to replace the proposed 20 percent surcharge with “trade and investment agreements” that would be signed between various Gulf states and the United States.
