On 12 July, United States forces used one-way attack sea drones in combat for the first time, striking a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Iran’s Bandar Abbas naval base. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM), which released video of the operation. The strike was part of a broader wave of attacks on dozens of Iranian military targets, including air defence systems, coastal radar sites, and missile capabilities, aimed at degrading Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

From Washington, President Donald Trump announced the re-establishment of a naval blockade on Iran and a 20 per cent levy on all cargo transiting the strait, describing the US as the “Guardian of the Strait of Hormuz”. Iran’s joint military command responded by declaring the waterway its territory and warning that any logistical support to US forces would be considered an act of war. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched retaliatory strikes on military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and other Gulf states, while Tehran’s military spokesman cautioned that a wider conflict would “consume the entire region”.

The escalation has sharply reduced maritime traffic. Only 14 vessels crossed the strait on Sunday, a 52 per cent drop from the previous week, according to maritime tracker Kpler. The International Maritime Organization has warned of sea mines and reported four vessel attacks this month. Oil prices rose above $79 a barrel, reflecting the risk to a chokepoint that before the war handled roughly one-fifth of global crude and liquefied natural gas shipments. Iran has attempted to impose its own permit system and fees on transiting ships, a move the US contests, insisting the waterway remains open via a southern route near Oman.

The conflict reignited after Trump declared the 17 June ceasefire framework dead, citing continued Iranian attacks on shipping. That agreement had envisioned a 60-day negotiation period and the resumption of free navigation. Iran’s foreign ministry now says the US strikes have derailed months of diplomatic efforts. Viewed from European capitals, the introduction of sea drones and the blockade announcement signal a hardening of US posture, while Iran’s multi-front retaliation risks drawing in neighbouring states. No new diplomatic track has been announced, and shipping insurers are expected to further raise war-risk premiums as both sides signal readiness to escalate.