U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday, executed a second wave of daylight strikes against Iran and disabled the Curaçao-flagged tanker M/T Belma with Hellfire missiles after it ignored warnings while attempting to violate the reimposed U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Following a heavy 90-minute wave of morning strikes that concluded around 11430 UTC (which hit coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage on Greater Tunb Island), the U.S. launched a second wave of daylight strikes at 1900 UTC. These daytime strikes are highly unusual and signal a significant increase in operational tempo.
The U.S. military stated these actions target Iranian capabilities threatening the Strait of Hormuz, having already redirected two other compliant vessels during the first 24 hours of enforcement.
In rapid retaliation, Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and Iranian army launched coordinated missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. military command centers, air defenses in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, UAE and Erbil Air Base/U.S. Consulate Area, and a primary "gathering center" of U.S. forces in northern Iraq.
The U.S. reinstated its maritime blockade on Tuesday to stop vessels from entering or exiting Iranian ports, a move President Donald Trump clarified would not include a previously proposed 20% cargo fee but would instead rely on new trade deals with Gulf states.
During enforcement, CENTCOM fired missiles into the M/T Belma's smokestack as it headed toward Kharg Island, marking the tenth commercial ship disabled since April for resisting U.S. instructions.
The blockade aims to secure the waterway, through which roughly 20% of global oil supplies typically move, following recent Iranian attacks on commercial shipping.
Following the U.S. strikes on Iranian coastal defenses and missile sites, Tehran threatened to halt all Middle East energy exports, declaring that regional oil would be available "to everyone or to no one."
The conflict has disrupted global trade, pushing Brent crude prices above $85 a barrel, and raises fears of a wider regional war involving the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The military confrontation between the U.S. and Iran has escalated dramatically following the breakdown of a short-lived June ceasefire.
Meanwhile Trump announced in a Truth Social that a detained American citizen has been freed by Iran. "Iran has allowed an American Citizen, who was wrongfully detained in December of 2024 under the “presidency” of Sleepy Joe Biden, to leave the Country. She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition. The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!" the president wrote.
