UAE condemns Iran tanker strike as Trump tightens Hormuz blockade

The war between the United States and Iran has entered a dangerous new phase after the United Arab Emirates accused Tehran of launching a deadly missile attack on two commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, while President Donald Trump announced a sweeping new blockade of Iranian ports and a controversial 20% transit charge on cargo using the strategic waterway.

The latest escalation comes as U.S. forces carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military targets, further raising fears that the conflict could spiral into a wider regional war.

Deadly strike on UAE tankers

The UAE said Iranian cruise missiles struck two of its tankers on Monday, killing one Indian crew member and injuring eight others, including six Indians and two Ukrainians. Four of those wounded were reported to be in serious condition.

In a strongly worded statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence described the attack as a "brazen" violation of international law that threatens regional security and global shipping.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later claimed responsibility, alleging the vessels had ignored repeated warnings, switched off their navigation systems and attempted to sail through a mined area. The IRGC said the ships were disabled and warned that cooperation with what it called the "aggressor enemy" would only deepen the crisis and worsen disruption to global energy supplies.

Trump announces tougher blockade

President Trump declared the United States would once again enforce a naval blockade around Iranian ports while imposing a 20% charge on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump said the United States would become the "Guardian of the Hormuz Strait," arguing that countries benefiting from safe passage should help cover the cost of maintaining security.

Speaking later at the White House, Trump said U.S. forces were "hitting them very hard," adding that America was destroying Iran's offensive military capability while taking control of the strategic shipping lane.

Despite the escalating military campaign, Trump maintained that a negotiated settlement remained possible.

Iran rejects U.S. claims

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded with a pointed message on social media, declaring that Iran—not the United States—had always been the true guardian of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mocking Trump's proposed 20% transit charge, Araghchi remarked that such a fee was excessive and suggested Iran would be "fairer."

Meanwhile, Iran's military warned that any foreign cooperation with the U.S. blockade would be regarded as an act of war against Iranian sovereignty.

Regional conflict widens

U.S. Central Command confirmed fresh strikes against military installations across southern Iran, saying the attacks were intended to further reduce Tehran's ability to threaten commercial shipping.

Iran responded by claiming missile strikes against U.S. military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, while also reporting attacks on American-linked targets elsewhere in the Gulf.

The exchange marks one of the widest regional escalations since fighting resumed earlier this year.

Oil markets and legal questions

The renewed fighting immediately rattled energy markets.

Brent crude climbed to nearly $84 a barrel after surging more than 9% the previous day, reflecting concerns that prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could threaten global energy supplies. Around a quarter of the world's seaborne oil and roughly one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas normally passes through the narrow waterway.

Trump's proposal to levy a 20% charge on cargo also faces significant legal hurdles. The International Maritime Organization said there is no legal basis under international law for imposing mandatory transit fees through international straits.

The announcement is also likely to face political resistance both internationally and within the United States, where critics argue the conflict itself has destabilised one of the world's most important shipping routes and contributed to rising fuel prices.

Source: BBC News