Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- Trump threatens strikes on Iranian infrastructure, saying ‘next week it gets really bad’ if no deal made
- US reimposes its naval blockade on Iranian ports amid continuing strikes on shipping
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed
Follow DW’s coverage of the war between the US and Iran on Wednesday, July 15.
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Skip next section What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz?07/15/2026July 15, 2026
What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran has been demanding that ships use a route that runs near its coastline, while another southern route runs along the coast of Oman. This corridor is protected by the US military.
Currently, there are at least 19 US warships in the Arabian Sea, including two aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault vessel with at least 1,000 marines on board.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for military operations in the region, said in a social media post that there are “hundreds of military aircraft operating across the Middle East.”
In the latest escalation — following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting along the route near Oman — the US has been hitting Iranian port facilities, among other targets, saying the attacks are to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacks on commercial shipping.
On Wednesday, the US said it would begin enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports and Iran threatened in response to halt all energy exports from the Middle East.
There had been an improvement in global crude supplies in the weeks following the signing of the interim peace agreement between the US and Iran, with a flurry of tankers taking the opportunity to pass through the strait.
Despite the recent escalation, some vessels have still making their way though the strait.
Commodity intelligence firm Kpler said that vessels had been transiting before the US blockade came into effect.
According data from commodity intelligence Kpler, nine of the 11 vessels that passed through the strait on Tuesday had sailed via the Iranian route.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, through which around 25% of the world maritime traded oil travels through.
The vital waterway is the primary export route for oil produced by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain and Iran.
Disruption in the strait has also impacted the global fertilizer trade where about a third of global fertilizers travel.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H7NlSkip next section Jordan says it intercepted Iranian missiles07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Jordan says it intercepted Iranian missiles
Jordan‘s military said it shot down three missiles launched by Iran that were heading toward the kingdom.
The announcement came after Tehran claimed responsibility for the attack amid escalating tensions in the region. According to Jordan’s state-run Petra news agency, the missiles were intercepted without causing damage.
Petra also quoted a military source as saying the armed forces would respond to “any breach or threat to Jordanian airspace in accordance with the approved rules of engagement” and would take all necessary measures to protect the kingdom’s sovereignty and security.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H7FWSkip next section Iran claims strike on US Fifth Fleet facilities in Bahrain07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Iran claims strike on US Fifth Fleet facilities in Bahrain
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted facilities linked to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.
In a statement, the IRGC said the attack was aimed at command-and-control centers, logistics facilities, fuel depots and military equipment sites.
Tehran described the move as a response to recent US military strikes on Iranian targets.
The Revolutionary Guards also warned that if Washington attempts to restrict oil and gas exports by controlling regional shipping routes, other export routes serving US and allied interests could be shut down as well.
The statement said energy exports in the region would be “for everyone or for no one.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Bahrain’sInterior Ministry said air raid sirens had sounded and urged residents to remain calm and seek shelter.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H7DRSkip next section Iran says Strait of Hormuz to remain closed07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Iran says Strait of Hormuz to remain closed
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said early Wednesday that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the US ends “acts of aggression.”
The announcement came after President Donald Trump said the US would reimpose a blockade on Iranian-aligned shipping through the strait.
“Oil and gas exports from the region will either be available for everyone or for no one,” the IRGC said in a statement.
Iran’s newly established “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” said it would issue “permits” for passage once “stability and calm are restored.”
The US maintains that international shipping routes through the strait remain open, although traffic has dropped significantly in recent days from the wartime high seen in June.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) says it has hit dozens of Iranian military targets near the strait and elsewhere along the Iranian coastline to “degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews.”
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https://p.dw.com/p/5H7DPSkip next section US completes new wave of strikes on Iran07/15/2026July 15, 2026
US completes new wave of strikes on Iran
The US military said it completed another round of strikes against Iran, targeting dozens of military sites near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s southern coast.
US Central Command, or CENTCOM, said fighter jets, drones and naval vessels took part in the seven-hour operation, hitting missile and drone sites, naval assets and coastal defense systems.
According to CENTCOM, the strikes were intended to further reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews in the region.
The attacks took place on the same day that the United States reinstated its naval blockade on vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports.
US Central Command added that American forces remain ready to carry out further operations if ordered.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5H7D3Skip next section Kuwait intercepts Iranian drones 07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Kuwait intercepts Iranian drones
Kuwait‘s military said it was intercepting what it described as hostile Iranian drones, as regional tensions continue to escalate.
In a statement, the Kuwaiti armed forces said air defenses were responding to “hostile drone attacks following the nefarious Iranian aggression.”
Meanwhile, neighboring Bahrain activated air raid sirens and urged residents to seek shelter.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H79iSkip next section Bahrain issues air raid alert07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Bahrain issues air raid alert
Authorities in Bahrain sounded an air raid siren on Wednesday and urged people to seek shelter.
In a post on X, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said: “The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.”
The warning came after the United States carried out another round of strikes against Iran and reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H79hSkip next section US military accuses Iran of attacking commercial ships07/15/2026July 15, 2026
US military accuses Iran of attacking commercial ships
The head of US Central Command said Iran has deliberately targeted commercial shipping in the Gulf over the past week.
In a statement, Admiral Brad Cooper said Iranian forces attacked seven commercial vessels during that period, leaving “nearly a dozen” civilian crew members dead, injured or missing.
Cooper also accused Iran of launching dozens of missiles and drones toward neighboring Gulf countries.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H79OSkip next section Trump threatens strikes on Iranian bridges, power plants07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Trump threatens strikes on Iranian bridges, power plants
US President Donald Trump said Washington held talks with Tehran on Tuesday and urged Iran to negotiate an end to the conflict.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump warned that US military action would intensify if no agreement is reached. He said Iran could face attacks on key infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.
“Next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges,” Trump said.
“We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate,” he added, repeating similar escalatory threats made earlier in the conflict.
When asked how long the US strikes would carry on, Trump said “they’ll continue until I say it’s enough.”
The remarks come as US forces continue military operations against Iran and Washington enforces a renewed naval blockade on Iranian ports.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H78WSkip next section US strikes Iran as conflict spreads across region07/15/2026July 15, 2026
US strikes Iran as conflict spreads across region
The United States has launched a fourth consecutive day of strikes against Iran, with the US military saying the latest attacks are aimed at reducing Tehran’sability to target commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest operation comes as a renewed US naval blockade of Iranian ports has officially taken effect.
The US Central Command (CENTCO) says vessels are now barred from travelling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
CENTCOM added that more than 20 US Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft are currently operating across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the conflict appears to be spreading beyond Iran. Iranian forces launched a drone attack on a military base in Jordan that hosts US aircraft, according to reports. Jordan’s military said it had already intercepted four Iranian missiles on Tuesday.
In Kuwait, explosions were heard in the capital overnight, while the country’s armed forces said they were intercepting what they described as hostile projectiles.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H78VSkip next section Iran says US blockade has voided truce dealPublished 07/15/2026Published July 15, 2026last updated 07/15/2026last updated July 15, 2026
Iran says US blockade has voided truce deal
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Tuesday that the US naval blockade has effectively ended the Pakistan-brokered MoU signed by the US and Iran last month.
Speaking to state television, Gharibabadi said the move by US President Donald Trump had, in his words, “dismantled the Islamabad memorandum.“ He added that Iran no longer considers itself bound by commitments under the agreement.
The deputy foreign minister also described the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of national security and said Tehran would defend its “sovereignty” over the strategic waterway.
The US rejects any assertion that Tehran can control shipping through international waters in the strait.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5H78TSkip next section US reimposes naval blockade on Iran07/15/2026July 15, 2026
US reimposes naval blockade on Iran
The US military early Wednesday said it had begun reenforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports
The US blockade was introduced in April in a tit-for-tat move after Iran began striking ships in the strait in response to attacks launched by the US and Israel.
It was paused in June, a day after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict.
Before reinstating the blockade, President Donald Trump had proposed charging ships a 20% fee for passing through the Strait of Hormuz under US military protection.
He later dropped the idea following requests from Gulf allies.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5H78USkip next section Welcome to our coverage07/15/2026July 15, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Ramisha Ali | Wesley Rahn Editor
The United States has reimposed its naval blockade on Iran as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.
US President Donald Trump warned that US strikes will intensify next week if negotiations fail to produce results.
The latest developments come as concerns grow that the collapse of a temporary ceasefire arrangement could lead to a wider conflict in the region.
Stay with us for the latest updates and analysis.
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