Iran said it struck two oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz while travelling under US military escort, as President Donald Trump met his cabinet to discuss the war and the economic impact of renewed fighting.
In a statement on Friday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the “non-compliant oil tankers … were struck and brought to a halt”. It said four other oil tankers changed course quickly and returned to their previous positions. The Guards said the ships tried to pass through the strait via an “undeclared route” and under US aerial escort.
Iran and the United States have issued competing accounts of how shipping should move through the narrow waterway. Iran has said it will strike vessels that take a southern route close to the coast of Oman. The US has said it will target ships that it considers to have breached its blockade of Iranian ships and ports.
Hormuz Traffic Disrupted By Renewed Fighting
The Strait of Hormuz has been almost closed to traffic since Iran and the US resumed fighting about two weeks ago, a disruption that has pushed energy prices higher.
On Thursday, crude oil rose above $90 a barrel after the US carried out a strike against Iran in retaliation for attacks Iran said it carried out against US bases in Jordan.
Further incidents were reported on Friday. Kuwait’s defence ministry said it shot down Iranian drones aimed at “vital and military facilities”, adding that there were no casualties.
Regional Conflict Continues In Lebanon
Elsewhere in the region, the Israeli military carried out a large detonation overnight near the ancient Beaufort Castle in Lebanon, according to the Israeli armed forces. It said it was targeting Hezbollah tunnels and related infrastructure.
The blast was heard across south Lebanon, where photos showed damage in the affected area. Lebanese officials accused Israel of violating a ceasefire by carrying out the operation.
The Israeli military said the action was intended to ensure the security of residents in northern Israel.
US Strikes, Rising Prices And Cabinet Meeting
Trump has tried to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force, but the impact of US strikes on Iran has been limited. The conflict has left prices for gas and groceries elevated in the US, a development that could affect Republicans as midterm elections approach in November.
On Friday, Trump convened his cabinet at the Camp David retreat in Maryland to seek a path forward for the war. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing last week that the meeting would be “a lot of fun and something different for the cabinet to experience together”.
Top of the agenda was the Iran war. Trump had previously promised it would last only a few weeks, but it has now continued for five months. A Reuters-Ipsos poll published this week found that one in three Americans supports the war, the lowest level since the conflict began.
Support in Congress has also weakened. The US Senate narrowly rejected a symbolic vote to express disapproval of the war, and a war powers resolution asking the president to stop the conflict failed 49-50.
With inflation linked to the fighting, Democrats are seeking to gain control of the House from the Republicans in the midterms. Energy companies have reported record profits during the disruption, including ExxonMobil, which has seen profits double, and Chevron, which said profits were more than five times those reported in the same period last year.
Join the discussion? 
1 August 2026
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment