WASHINGTON:  The United States has declared an immediate naval blockade against Iranian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The administration announced that the U.S. will take over management of the critical maritime corridor and impose a 20 percent security fee on all transit cargo to offset operational expenses, though the practical mechanism for enforcing this fee remains unspecified.

This development follows a declaration from the Iranian military rejecting U.S. authority over the shipping lane and asserting that interference in its management will not be permitted.

Concurrently, military engagements between the two nations have intensified. U.S. Central Command confirmed overnight airstrikes targeting an Iranian ship maintenance facility and a submarine, citing prior operations against commercial vessels. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. military installations located in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait, alongside radar infrastructure in Oman. Officials in Bahrain have accused Iranian forces of intentionally targeting civilian areas.

While minimal commercial traffic persists through the Strait of Hormuz, overall transit remains severely restricted due to the ongoing hostilities.