US naval blockade diverts 12 ships, disables tanker as Iran hits Kuwait bases and warns allies

Maritime incidents

The US naval blockade against Iran remained fully in force on 26 July, with Centcom reporting that on the previous day it diverted 12 commercial ships that attempted to breach it. Two vessels that did not respond to warnings were stopped, and American forces boarded two ships to ensure compliance. A separate incident saw US forces fire on a tanker that had tried to evade the blockade at least four times, rendering the vessel unusable by striking the engine room after the crew ignored repeated warnings.

The crew was repeatedly warned but did not obey. US forces on site then rendered the vessel unusable by firing into the engine room. The ship is no longer headed to Iran.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) meanwhile announced that it had stopped four vessels in the southern area of the Strait of Hormuz over the previous 24 hours, opening warning shots after the ships attempted to transit what it called an illegal and dangerous route.

Iranian claims and warnings

IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebi claimed that more than 200 American soldiers were killed in the Iranian Nasr-2 operation and that the number of wounded far exceeded the figures released by the United States. He also stated that Iranian forces had destroyed 11 US fighters and helicopters on the ground during the 15 days of fighting from 8 to 22 July, while the aircraft were stationed at regional US bases.

Over 200 American soldiers were killed in operation Nasr-2.

Mohebi broadened Iran's threats, declaring that any country supporting the United States in the war would become a legitimate target. He specifically cited the United Kingdom, where US B-1 bombers had recently used airfields to attack Iran, and warned Persian Gulf states in similar terms. He also addressed Israel, saying the IRGC would focus on it if Israel returned to war, and accused Israel of provoking the US president with false information to keep American power in the region.

Any country, whether the UK, the Persian Gulf states or others, will be our legitimate target if it supports the United States in the war.

Drone strikes and regional escalation

Iran launched a drone attack on three US installations in Kuwait: Al-Doha, Ali Al-Salem and Camp Arifjan. The strikes came as President Trump stated he was ready to deploy ground troops to the Middle East and as the US intensified its campaign with raids on IRGC bases. Tehran warned it could completely close the Strait of Hormuz if Washington targeted Iranian infrastructure.

The conflict rippled beyond the US-Iran confrontation. Houthi forces in Yemen claimed attacks against Saudi Arabia, and a Greek air defence system deployed in the kingdom intercepted missiles fired from Yemen. An incident involving a tanker and military units in the Strait of Hormuz was also reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

Diplomatic signals

Despite the military exchanges, Trump said peace talks with Iran were continuing and described other accounts as generally false during a White House correspondents' dinner. Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore reported that Trump had halted further escalation to avoid exhausting Patriot missile stocks. In Tehran, General Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, head of the Supreme National Security Council, vowed that operations would not stop until the enemy's complete surrender and revenge for the blood of children in Minab and Lamerd.

The continuous and targeted launches of our fighters will continue until the complete surrender of the enemy and revenge for the blood of the oppressed children of Minab and Lamerd.

The 14-point ceasefire memorandum signed by Washington and Tehran in June appeared to have been set aside, as both sides traded fire and threats across the Persian Gulf.