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Iran war: Trump reinstates US blockade of Strait of Hormuz
Iran war: Trump reinstates US blockade of Strait of Hormuz
Louis Oelofse | Timothy Jones | Dharvi Vaid | Felix Tamsut with Reuters, AFP, AP, dpaPublished 07/13/2026Published July 13, 2026last updated 07/13/2026last updated July 13, 2026President Donald Trump says the US will restart its naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting Iranian ships and those doing business with Iran.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GyH6What you need to know
- US military conducts third consecutive night of strikes in Iran
- President Donald Trump has said the United States is 'reinstating' a blockade on Iran
- Trump says US would charge any other ships for passage through the Strait of Hormuz
It was a roundup of DW's coverage of the war between the US and Iran on Monday, July 13. This blog is now closed.
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Skip next section US military conducts third consecutive night of strikes in Iran07/13/2026July 13, 2026The US military said it is conducting a third consecutive night of strikes in Iran.
"These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," the US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on X.
CENTCOM said the strikes are taking place at the direction of US President Donald Trump.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H2UkSkip next section US to 'hit Iran hard' — Trump07/13/2026July 13, 2026US to 'hit Iran hard' — Trump
Dmytro Hubenko EditorUS President Donald Trump said Iran will be "hit hard" on Monday and Tuesday.
Speaking to Hugh Hewitt, Trump said the US will be carrying out strikes against Iran and that "there's not a damn thing they can do about it."
In an interveiw, the US leader also spoke about the deeply buried underground site near the Natanz uranium enrichment facility known as Pickaxe Mountain.
"We have a lot of eyes on it," Trump said, adding the site is "a possible target for a big fat shot."
"We see no activity there, they're not doing well with their nuclear situation. Every time we hear about it, we blow it up," the US leader said, adding the US will "give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon."
"These people are crazy," Trump said about Iran, calling its leadership "extremely unreliable."
https://p.dw.com/p/5H2UfSkip next section Naval blockade on Iran to start tomorrow night: US army07/13/2026July 13, 2026Naval blockade on Iran to start tomorrow night: US army
The US military said it will start enforcing a naval blockade against Iran from tomorrow at midnight Central European Time (16:00 EDT).
The military's Central Command (CENTCOM) took to X to say it will "enforce the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas."
"All mariners are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches," CENTCOM posted.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H2QFSkip next section Iran FM mocks Trump's social media post on Strait of Hormuz07/13/2026July 13, 2026Iran FM mocks Trump's social media post on Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mocked US President Donald Trump's style of writing and his claims that the US would become the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz.
"Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Straight and will remain so FOREVER," Araghchi posted on his X account.
Araghchi also addressed Trump's claims that the US should be compensated for its protection of vessels.
"POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service," he posted, hinting at Iran's right to charge payment for passing through the Strait.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H2Q3Skip next section UN chief warns over US strikes on Iran, Tehran targeting shipping07/13/2026July 13, 2026UN chief warns over US strikes on Iran, Tehran targeting shipping
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of escalating tensions in Iran.
He expressed "deep concern at the serious escalation of renewed military confrontation in the Gulf region, including Iranian attacks on ships on the Strait of Hormuz, attacks by the United States on the Islamic Republic of Iran, and attacks by Iran on targets in neighboring countries," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H28XSkip next section US says sea drones used in strike on Iranian naval facility07/13/2026July 13, 2026
US says sea drones used in strike on Iranian naval facility
The U Smilitary's Central Command, or CENTCOM, said its forces struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Iranäs Bandar Abbas Naval Base on Sunday, using sea drones.
According to CENTCOM, three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port facility, marking what the command described as the first combat use of sea drones by US forces.
CENTCOM said the strikes damaged infrastructure used to maintain naval vessels and degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacks on commercial shipping.
Iranian authorities had not publicly commented on the claims.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H1xRSkip next section Trump says US reinstating naval blockade of Iranian ports07/13/2026July 13, 2026Trump says US reinstating naval blockade of Iranian ports
President Donald Trumpsays the United States is reinstating a blockade targeting Iranian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a social media post, Trump says Iranian vessels and their customers will no longer be allowed to enter or leave through the strategic waterway.
"The USA. will be, from this point forward, known as 'The guardian of the Hormuz strait,' but as such, and as a matter of fairness, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the world," he said.
Trump says other countries will continue to have what he calls fair and open access to the route.
The announcement follows another major exchange of fire between US and Iranian forces
Before Iran asserted control after the war began, the Strait of Hormuz carried around one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H1cUSkip next section Yemen government says it hit Sanaa's airport to stop Iranian plane landing07/13/2026July 13, 2026Yemen government says it hit Sanaa's airport to stop Iranian plane landing
Yemen's internationally recognized government has claimed an attack on the airport in Sanaa, saying it was to stop an Iranian plane carrying Houthi rebels from landing.
"The terrorist Houthi militias — backed by the Iranian regime — prevented Yemeni national aircraft from landing at the airport in the capital, Sanaa, while insisting on allowing an Iranian plane to violate Yemeni territory; consequently, the airport runway was targeted," the Yemeni Defense Ministry said.
The Houthis, meanwhile, have initially claimed that Saudi Arabia launched the airstrikes on the airport, with military spokesman Yahya Saree saying "this aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished."
Orders have been issued to evacuate the airport and surrounding areas.
A Saudi-led coalition based in Yemen’s south, where the internationally recognized government sits, has for years been fighting the Iranian-aligned Houthis, who control the capital along with most of central and northern Yemen.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H13gSkip next section Iran targeting civilians in Bahrain — military07/13/2026July 13, 2026Iran targeting civilians in Bahrain — military
Bahrain's military has accused Iran of targeting civilians with its latest attacks on the kingdom, contradicting Tehran's claim that it has hit only military sites.
"Iran continues its systematic hostile approach through its heinous attacks with missiles and drones that target civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain," the general command of the island nation's military said in a statement.
It added that air defenses had "intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian aerial attacks" on Monday morning.
Iran has said it has carried out strikes on US military facilities and infrastructure in the Gulf country, which is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.
https://p.dw.com/p/5H0CNSkip next section Iran says US has failed to adhere to MoUPublished 07/13/2026Published July 13, 2026last updated 07/13/2026last updated July 13, 2026Iran says US has failed to adhere to MoU
Iran will not comply with the recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the US if Washing did not stick by its commitments to end the war, Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
"Each time that the other party has failed to meet its obligations, we did not uphold ours ... We will continue to act in this manner," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.
Nevertheless, Iran would continue talks with mediators from Qatar, Pakistan and Oman.
"The role of the mediators is to continue their efforts to prevent an escalation of tensions," Baqaei said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GzKfSkip next section Iran claims it struck Oman, destroyed radar systems07/13/2026July 13, 2026Iran claims it struck Oman, destroyed radar systems
Iran said that it destroyed radar systems in Oman, news agency AFP reported on Monday, citing a statement published by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) media arm.
The IRGC Navy "targeted and destroyed" a long-range airborne radar and a ship-detection radar in Oman, the IRGC said in a statement run by its outlet Sepah News.
There is yet to be a statement from Oman on the Iranian attack.
On Sunday, Oman — which long played the role of an interlocutor between Iran and the West — had summoned the Iranian ambassador to lodge a formal protest over Tehran's attacks on Omani territory.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GyYhSkip next section Jordan says it intercepted 4 Iranian missiles07/13/2026July 13, 2026Jordan says it intercepted 4 Iranian missiles
Jordan said it shot down four missiles launched by Iran, state news agency Petra reported on Monday.
According to Petra, a Jordanian source military said that the missiles "breached" the Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory early in the morning, adding that no casualties or material damage was reported in the incident.
There was no immediate comment from Iran on the claimed downing of its missiles.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GyOuSkip next section Kuwait says air defenses activated amid 'hostile' fire07/13/2026July 13, 2026Kuwait says air defenses activated amid 'hostile' fire
Kuwait's armed forces said on Monday they were responding to "hostile aerial targets" on Monday as Iran retaliates over US airstrikes.
"The Armed Forces are currently intercepting hostile aerial targets within Kuwaiti airspace," the head of Kuwait's army said in a statement ran by the official KUNA news agency.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GyMhSkip next section Iran says it hit Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air Base07/13/2026July 13, 2026Iran says it hit Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air Base
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had struck the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain on Monday in what it described as a second phase of Tehran's retaliatory strikes against recent US attacks.
Bahrain's air raid alarms went off for the second time in two hours, according to posts made by the US ally's interior ministry on X.
Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GyLPSkip next section Iran claims attack on US bases in Kuwait07/13/2026July 13, 2026Iran claims attack on US bases in Kuwait
Iran struck US military bases in Kuwait, state media IRNA cited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as saying.
The Ali Al-Salem air base — which hosts members of the US Air Force — was reportedly among the sites attacked.
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