UAE Reports Iranian Strikes on Tankers in Strait of Hormuz as US Announces Blockade Measures

By Bernd Debusmann Jr, Tabby Wilson, Peter Hoskins

The United Arab Emirates stated that Iranian forces carried out strikes on two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, resulting in one death and eight injuries. US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 20 percent charge on cargo transiting the waterway as part of a naval blockade. The measures were described by the president as a response to ongoing exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran.

Trump stated that US forces were striking Iranian targets "very hard," with operations continuing for a third night. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to the blockade announcement by asserting that Iran would continue to serve as the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz. The competing claims over management of the waterway have complicated efforts to reach an agreement to end hostilities, though Trump indicated that an agreement remained feasible.

The UAE Ministry of Defence issued a statement on X detailing that Iranian cruise missiles struck two UAE-flagged tankers. One Indian crew member was killed and eight others were wounded, four of them seriously. Six of the injured crew members were Indian nationals and two were Ukrainian. The ministry described the incident as a violation of international law that threatened regional security and stability. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the strikes in a Telegram statement, stating that the tankers had disregarded warnings, deactivated navigation systems, and attempted to navigate a mined passage. The IRGC reported that it disabled the vessels. The statement warned that cooperation with opposing forces would result in regret, damage, delays in reopening the strait, and an energy crisis.

Oil prices rose in Asian trading on Tuesday. Brent crude increased 0.7 percent to $83.87 per barrel, while US-traded crude rose 0.9 percent to $79.04 per barrel. These movements followed a gain of more than 9 percent in Brent prices on Monday.

The Strait of Hormuz has been the site of direct confrontations between US and Iranian forces. On Monday, both sides exchanged statements regarding control of the waterway after strikes occurred in the region the previous night. In a Truth Social post, Trump announced the reinstatement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports and the introduction of a 20 percent charge on all cargo passing through the strait. The measure was intended to prevent Iranian vessels and customers from using the route while allowing other countries continued access. The blockade was scheduled to begin at 16:00 Eastern Time on Tuesday. Trump wrote that the United States would act as "the guardian of the Hormuz Strait" and would be reimbursed at a rate of 20 percent on cargo to cover costs of maintaining safety and security.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said US forces were striking Iranian targets and controlling the strait. He expressed confidence that an agreement between the parties was possible. US Central Command reported that strikes began at 16:45 Eastern Time on Monday under presidential direction. Later statements confirmed attacks on military sites in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas, with the stated purpose of reducing Iran's capacity to target commercial shipping.

Iranian state media reported that Iran's army had struck US military assets in Kuwait. The IRGC stated that it had attacked sites in Bahrain, including weapons depots, a satellite communications centre, and a building used by US forces. Early Tuesday, the IRGC confirmed ballistic missile strikes on an air base in Jordan.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States would likely assume operational control of the strait and claimed that Iran had violated a prior agreement. Central Command indicated that forces would resume blockading maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports on 14 July, while continuing to permit passage for vessels not subject to the restrictions.

On 7 July, Trump notified Congress in a letter that military operations against Iran had resumed. Under federal law, congressional approval is required to sustain such actions beyond 60 days, with a possible 30-day extension on national security grounds.

Araghchi posted on X that the party providing secure passage through the strait should receive compensation. He stated that Iran had always been and would remain the guardian of the strait, while describing the proposed 20 percent rate as excessive and indicating that Iran would apply a fair charge. A spokesperson for the International Maritime Organization told Reuters that the agency opposed fees for transit through straits used for international navigation and that no legal basis existed for mandatory tolls.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters stated that it would not permit US interference in management of the strait. Spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said US actions had endangered regional security, international trade, and vessel passage. Cooperation with the United States would be viewed as an act of war against Iranian sovereignty, and any spread of the conflict would affect all regional countries.

United Nations rules permit coastal states to exercise sovereignty over territorial seas extending 12 nautical miles from their shores. At its narrowest point, the Strait of Hormuz and its shipping lanes fall within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman. Iran closed the strait, through which approximately 25 percent of global oil and 20 percent of liquefied natural gas had previously transited, following US and Israeli strikes on 28 February. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and US bases in Gulf states. The IRGC also fired on commercial vessels and seized two ships. Traffic through the strait declined sharply, contributing to higher oil prices.

The United States first established a naval blockade of Iranian ports in April. Approximately five weeks later, US forces reported redirecting 100 commercial vessels and disabling four. The blockade was lifted in June under a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict. Disputes over the strait have since re-emerged.

Additional reporting by Ghoncheh Habibiazad.