The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the start of air strikes against Iran for the third night in a row, vowing that these strikes will continue to "inflict heavy losses on Iranian forces and undermine their ability to attack civilians and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz".
CNN, citing a U.S. official, said the strikes targeted Iranian military sites, including coastal surveillance systems, drone capabilities and missile capabilities.
This comes as the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center said that the US military "will begin imposing a naval blockade on Iran" today, Tuesday , July 14.
The blockade, which includes all of Iran's ports, oil terminals and coastal areas, will be enforced on all vessel traffic, regardless of which flag it flies, starting at 20:00 GMT on July 14, the center said in a navigational guidance.
Trump threatens to bomb Iranian nuclear site
US President Donald Trump said that the United States will destroy the Peacock Mountain nuclear site in Iran, vowing that Washington will continue to strike the country hard.
In an interview with The Hugh Hewitt Show, Trump said: "We're going to eliminate Peacock Mountain.Tell the Iranians to be ready."
The New York Times revealed on Monday that it had seen a letter Trump sent to congressional leaders last Friday, July 10, stating that US forces launched "defensive military strikes against targets inside Iran on July 7."
Trump: A deal with Iran is still possible
Despite the ongoing escalation , Trump said a deal with Tehran to end the war was still "possible" despite new U.S. strikes on Iran and the reimposition of a blockade on Iranian ports.
"Yes, I think a deal is possible, I certainly think so," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding, "We reached an agreement with them two days ago, and then they said, 'We can't make this deal. It must continue to be negotiated.'"
He noted that the United States is attacking Iranian capabilities related to the Strait of Hormuz, adding that "we are eliminating Iran's offensive capabilities" and "I want to recover the costs of protecting the countries we are helping to protect the Strait of Hormuz."
Trump: We will protect Hormuz and impose a 20% fee
On Monday, July 13, Trump announced the re-imposition of the naval blockade on Iran, and the United States' protection of the Strait of Hormuz by charging fees for ships passing through the strait at a rate of 20% of the value of goods, calling the mission "Strait Protection Compensation", to cover the costs needed to provide security and safety for navigation.
"The Strait of Hormuz is open and will remain open," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that he is "immediately reinstating the naval blockade" that only prevents Iranian ships and their dealers from entering and exiting without affecting other vessels, noting that other countries will enjoy the right of fair use and freedom of navigation in the strait.
"From this moment on, the United States will have the right to custodianship of the Strait of Hormuz for 20 percent of the value of the goods," Trump said, claiming that this is a "fair and equitable percentage," considering it "compensation" for "the costs of providing security and protection."
Trump explained that these tariffs will apply to all countries except Iran, which will be completely barred from receiving and exiting ships.