U.S. strikes Iran for 10th straight night; Houthis threaten Bab el-Mandeb blockade

• The U.S. has carried out its tenth consecutive evening of attacks against Iran.
• Iran attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday, while Houthi militants in Yemen declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia.
• Rystad Energy has warned about the risk of a significant rebound in oil prices.

A shipyard damaged in a U.S. strike is seen in Iran's Hormozgan province, where Iranian authorities said the United States carried out attacks on 95 locations across 12 cities over the past 10 days, on July 19, 2026. Anadolu | Getty Images

The U.S. completed a fresh round of strikes against Iran on Monday evening as Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis threatened to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, potentially opening a new front in the Middle East conflict.

The latest cycle of tit-for-tat strikes comes amid reports that regional mediators have presented Washington and Tehran with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire — a pitch that could put last month's Memorandum of Understanding back on track.

U.S. Central Command Statement

The U.S. Central Command said overnight that it had carried out another round of strikes on Iran at 9 p.m. ET on Monday.

"U.S. forces struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems to degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking commercial vessels flowing through the Strait of Hormuz."

Centcom added that commercial vessel transits through the strategically vital waterway were continuing. The statement noted that Centcom forces had facilitated the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil through the strait since early May.

Watch Now VIDEO — 3:58 Iranians still have control over the Strait of Hormuz, says Kpler's Matt Smith Power Lunch

Iran Strikes Tanker; Houthis Declare Maritime Embargo

Iran, meanwhile, attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel as it seeks to tighten its control over the waterway — one that typically handles around 20% of the world's oil traffic.

Houthi militants in Yemen on Monday declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia effective immediately, a move that could substantially threaten Middle East oil supplies.

The Houthis have repeatedly threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait during the U.S.-Iran war. The strait is a choke point for commercial ship traffic that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and global markets.

The militants, in a statement carried by state news, accused the Saudis of laying an "aggressive siege" against them. Tensions escalated last week after they claimed that Riyadh had bombed Sanaa International Airport.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said that it would respond to the Houthi naval blockade with force, reportedly describing such threats as "a blatant violation of international law."

10-Day Ceasefire 'Won't Be an Easy Task'

Oil prices rose briefly on news of the Houthi statement but later pared gains as energy market participants closely monitored the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough.

• Brent crude (September delivery): Last traded 1.5% lower at $87.95 per barrel, having surpassed $90 in the previous session.
• U.S. West Texas Intermediate (August delivery): Stood 1.2% lower at $82.25.

Strategists at ING said there is some hope of de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran given the reports.