WASHINGTON: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that its forces began a new wave of strikes against Iran at 6:00 a.m. ET, saying the operation is aimed at degrading the country’s military capabilities.
“The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM says in a post on X.
At 6 a.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran. The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 15, 2026
The US carried out a wave of strikes late Tuesday as it reimposed the blockade, striking dozens of targets over seven hours, the US military’s Central Command said.
Oil prices rise by one per cent
Meanwhile, oil prices extended their gains by around 1 percent after President Donald Trump reimposed a naval blockade on all Iranian ports, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened to shut down all other export corridors that benefit the US and its allies.
Brent crude futures climbed 69 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $85.42 a barrel by 0950 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 73 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $80.07 a barrel.
Operations unaffected at Iraq port after drone attack
Operations at Iraq’s Grand Faw Port remain unaffected after a drone crashed into the container yard, with no casualties reported.
According to the port authority, the drone struck an open area of the container yard at the Gulf coast facility, causing no disruption to port operations. The identity of those responsible for the attack remains unknown.
“The company confirms that the incident did not result in any human or material damage as the drone crashed in an open area far from workers, equipment and facilities, and the incident did not affect the workflow or operational processes within the port, which continue as normal,” the authority said.
Iraqi authorities have begun an investigation into the incident.
Also Read: US Reimposes Naval Blockade on Iran
Kuwait, Bahrain intercept Iran attacks
Kuwait and Bahrain on Wednesday confirmed they had intercepted fresh aerial salvos from Iran as Tehran and Washington exchanged fire over control of the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Kuwait’s military said it was intercepting attack drones, and blamed “nefarious Iranian aggression”, with Bahrain’s army later saying it “succeeded in intercepting and destroying a number of the treacherous Iranian aerial attacks”.
US expands sanctions on Iran’s oil
The United States on Wednesday expanded sanctions targeting Iran’s oil sector, imposing new measures on a network linked to petroleum shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani while freezing more than $130 million in digital assets connected to Iran’s central bank.
The US Treasury Department said the sanctions are part of Washington’s campaign to intensify economic pressure on Tehran after renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department had frozen over $130 million held in digital wallets linked to the Central Bank of Iran, targeting a financial channel that has gained importance since the conflict intensified.
.@USTreasury is committed to disrupting and degrading Iran’s illicit financial activities, including its abuse of digital assets. Today, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned multiple wallets tied to the Central Bank of Iran, resulting in the freeze of over $130…
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) July 14, 2026
“We will continue to aggressively follow the money and deny the Iranian regime access to the proceeds of its illicit revenue schemes,” Bessent said in a post on X.
The latest sanctions target more than 50 individuals, companies and vessels that the Treasury said facilitate Iran’s oil exports and help generate revenue for the Iranian government.
