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ConflictUS-Iran ceasefire collapses as Trump reinstates Strait of Hormuz blockade, strikes Iranian vessels
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The ceasefire between America and Iran has all but collapsed after Donald Trump reinstated a blockade of Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and ordered fresh strikes to degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping. Iran retaliated by targeting countries in the region, including Kuwait and Jordan, and struck two United Arab Emirates' oil tankers with cruise missiles. America hit a tanker heading towards Kharg island, Iran's oil-export hub. Trump raised, then quickly backed down from, the possibility of charging a 20% fee on ships traversing the strait. Oil prices jumped. Separately, Iraq's new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, visited the White House, where Trump praised him as a 'great leader'. Trump had blocked the return of Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister, viewing him as too close to Iran. Iraq's new leader faces intense pressure to disarm Iranian-aligned militias that have attacked American facilities.
Source report
The ceasefire between America and Iran all but collapsed this week, after Donald Trump reinstated a blockade of Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and ordered fresh strikes to degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping.
- Iran continued to target countries in the region, including Kuwait and Jordan, and struck two United Arab Emirates’ oil tankers with cruise missiles.
- America hit a tanker heading towards Kharg Island, Iran’s oil-export hub.
- Mr Trump raised, and then quickly backed down from, the possibility of America charging a 20% fee on ships that traverse the strait.
- Oil prices jumped.
Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, visited the White House. Mr Trump was effusive in his praise, describing Mr al-Zaidi as a “great leader”. The president had in effect blocked the return of Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister, viewing him as too close to Iran. Iraq’s new leader is under intense pressure to disarm Iranian-aligned militias that have launched attacks on American facilities.
This article appeared in the “The world this week” section of the print edition under the headline “Politics”
From the July 18th 2026 edition Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents. Explore the edition
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Politics: US-Iran Ceasefire Collapses and Iraq's New PM Visits White House