Iran's Revolutionary Guard Stops 3 Oil Tankers in Hormuz as U.S. Strikes Hit 12th Night
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 23
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Stops 3 Oil Tankers in Hormuz as U.S. Strikes Hit 12th Night
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 23
Summary
Three oil tankers were stopped in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Revolutionary Guard said, after one vessel on a mine-laid southern route exploded and caught fire while two others turned back.
The Guard said ships using the U.S.-backed route south of the strait would be punished unless they coordinated with Iran, underscoring Tehran's push to force traffic into its own waters and charge for safe passage.
A 12th straight night of U.S. strikes hit Iranian maritime, missile, drone and air-defense targets, while CENTCOM still said the strait remains open and that it has redirected nine commercial vessels since July 14.
The disruption is spreading beyond Hormuz: Houthi rebels claimed attacks on two tankers in the Red Sea, at least four ships have avoided the Bab al-Mandab, and Brent crude briefly topped $95 a barrel.
With two vital straits now blocked, is the global economy on the brink of a massive energy and supply chain shock?
Are US strikes on Iran containing the conflict, or are they pushing the region closer to an all-out war?
The 2026 Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Economic, Military, and Energy System Impacts Worldwide
Overview
In July 2026, escalating tensions between the United States and Iran reached a crisis point when Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy chokepoint. This decision followed a series of explosive incidents, including oil tankers being struck and set ablaze after navigating mined waters, which Iran blamed on US intelligence misleading vessels. The closure immediately disrupted global oil and gas supplies, sent energy prices soaring, and triggered urgent military and diplomatic responses. The crisis exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains and accelerated international efforts to find alternative energy routes and speed up the transition to renewables.