USA attacks Iran for the third time: Maritime blockade begins in the Strait of Hormuz

The United States announced that it has launched its third round of attacks on Iran and reinstated the maritime blockade on Iranian ports. This comes following the collapse of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed due to disagreements between the countries. US President Donald Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and that ships transiting through it will be charged a 20 percent fee to guarantee the safety of the vessels.

US Central Command announced that preparations for blockading ships heading to or coming from Iranian ports will begin on Tuesday at 20:00 GMT. Meanwhile, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) condemned the tariffs and military actions in the region, stating that the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz should be exempt from customs and duties in accordance with international law.

The geopolitical tension in the region caused a massive surge in oil prices; the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil rose by 9.06 percent to reach 82.90 dollars. In addition, two oil tankers belonging to the United Arab Emirates were targeted by Iranian missiles in Omani waters; one Indian crew member lost his life in the attack, while eight people were injured.