US threatens Iran with further economic pressure as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz faces severe disruption following fresh attacks on two vessels on Friday, while Washington signaled that its naval blockade of Tehran could remain in place indefinitely.
Diplomatic efforts to build on a June truce have stalled, according to a senior Iranian source, leading to a breakdown of the temporary ceasefire. In response, Tehran resumed targeted strikes against commercial ships navigating the strategic waterway without prior Iranian authorization.
The United Arab Emirates’ official news agency, WAM, reported that two vessels affiliated with the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) were targeted on Thursday night while transiting the strait. While the UAE government condemned the strikes, Iranian authorities have not issued an immediate response to the allegations.
Ship-tracking data indicates that no visible vessel transits were recorded through the Strait of Hormuz early Friday.
While maritime analysts note that some ships may continue to pass undetected by turning off automatic identification system (AIS) transponders, present traffic levels remain a small fraction of pre-war volumes.
The latest development comes as US threatens Iran with continued pressure amid the escalating tensions surrounding the strategic waterway.
“Alongside the threat to energy infrastructure in the region, Iran’s ability to restrict shipping through the strait is ​its main source of leverage in negotiations,” said Torbjorn Solvedt, principal Middle East analyst with risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.
US pledges new measure against Iran in coming week
The U.S. military can have a naval presence in the area to enforce its retaliatory blockade of Iran, which has caused serious economic harm to the nation, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters.
 Hegseth told reporters during a trip to Panama that “Indefinitely the United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we’ll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we’ll continue to,”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump of is facing domestic pressure to put a stop to an unpopular conflict, as rising fuel prices are lowering his support ratings and possibly undermining his party’s hold on Congress in the November midterm elections.
Also Read: Strait of Hormuz News-Iran Sets Fresh Conditions for Reopening
Backstory…
The latest threat comes amid renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the United States continuing to increase pressure on Iran while the security situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains fragile.
The latest developments follow attacks on two vessels in the region, adding to concerns over the safety of commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important maritime routes.
he attacks on the vessels have further complicated already tense efforts to ease the confrontation.
Read Also: Iran Maintains Full Control of Hormuz Strait of Hormuz -Tehran
