The U.S. military completed its 12th successive night of strikes on Iran 1 day ago, targeting critical military infrastructure as the Islamic Republic and its proxies escalate threats to global shipping. These latest American attacks, directed by President Donald Trump, lasted five hours. U.S. Central Command confirmed that forces struck Iranian military targets, including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets.
Throughout July, U.S. forces have targeted dozens of Iranian military sites on land. They have also resumed a blockade against Iran at sea, intensifying pressure on the regime. Oil prices rose for a fifth day today, directly reflecting the heightened instability caused by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacking tankers in the Red Sea and the ongoing strikes between the U.S. and Iran, which have nearly shut the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures climbed $2.42, or 2.6%, to $96.49, marking the highest price since June 8. This followed a rise of more than $3 to $94.07 in the previous session, just shy of a six-week high. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude also saw a significant increase, climbing $1.59, or 1.8%, to $88.42, after a 3% rise 1 day ago.
Iran's Axis of Aggression
Iran's Revolutionary Guards declared an oil tanker caught fire after an explosion while attempting to navigate a route they described as mined in the southern Strait of Hormuz, near the coast of Oman. Two other vessels reportedly turned back from the perilous waterway. In a defiant statement, the Guards asserted the strait was under their control and "completely closed" while U.S. actions continued in the region, warning that no tanker would be allowed to enter or leave without their coordination.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have openly claimed responsibility for a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers. Maritime security reports confirmed one of the vessels identified by the group, the Saudi-flagged tanker Encelia, had been hit in the Red Sea. The Houthis also stated they forced approximately 10 ships to retreat and return after issuing warnings against sailing to Saudi ports.
Beyond the renewed conflict over the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthis have opened a dangerous new front. They are actively targeting vessels carrying Saudi oil in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, attempting to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. Priyanka Sachdeva, a senior market analyst at Phillip Nova, highlighted the rare risk posed by simultaneous disruptions at both the Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz. She noted that "Geopolitical premiums have returned, but a sustained (price) rally will require evidence of prolonged shipping disruptions or meaningful supply outages."
Saul Kavonic, head of energy research at MST Marquee, warned that the new threat to Red Sea passage could interrupt up to 5 million barrels per day of oil supply. This includes the main route for Gulf oil that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the global economic vulnerability to Iran's proxy actions.
Western Resolve Under Fire
President Trump vowed 1 day ago to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. He has also previously threatened to target energy plants and bridges, signaling a firm response to Iranian aggression. Conversely, Iran's joint military command warned that if Trump's threat was carried out, its forces would target regional oil, gas, electricity, and economic facilities, according to state media.
International law experts in the United States stated in April that such attacks by Trump may amount to war crimes, citing the 1949 Geneva Conventions' prohibition on attacking sites essential for civilians. Trump's earlier threat that month to destroy Iran's entire civilization also drew wide condemnation, illustrating the constraints placed on Western powers even when facing existential threats. The broader Iran war began when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, the same year, with Iran responding with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host U.S. bases. U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have since killed thousands and displaced millions, while U.S. troop deaths have risen to 18 in recent days, a stark reminder of the cost of confronting the Islamist axis.