Trump Declares U.S. Guardian of Strait of Hormuz Amid War

The United States and Iran have entered a period of open military conflict following the collapse of the June 17 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. After an Iranian drone struck the container ship GFS Galaxy on July 12, Donald Trump authorized the United States Central Command to launch three consecutive nights of airstrikes targeting over 300 Iranian military sites, including air defenses and drone facilities in Bandar Abbas, Kish Island, and Qeshm Island. This included the first combat use of American sea drones at the Bandar Abbas Naval Base.

In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and launched missile and drone attacks against U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Oman. Iran also targeted two UAE-associated tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, killing one mariner. Meanwhile, the new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed vengeance for the February 28 killing of his father, with state-linked media publishing a revenge list of 13 foreign leaders, including Trump.

On July 13, Trump declared the U.S. the guardian of the strait, reinstating a naval blockade on Iranian ports and announcing a 20 percent security fee for transiting cargo. While the Iranian government dismissed these claims and submitted a complaint to the UN Security Council alleging 42 U.S. breaches of the MoU, Trump dismissed the agreement as over. Diplomatic efforts led by Qatar, Oman, and Pakistan continue in an attempt to prevent further escalation as global oil prices spike.