Back on the Hormuz in the news track
U.S. and Iran exchange strikes as Strait of Hormuz standoff escalates
I would imagine the people who were outraged at Iran for charging a toll for safe transit will be equally outraged at the notion of the U.S. doing the same.
It begs the question is the US a good friend? We buy a great deal of our defence matériels from the USA with the dollars we earn exporting to the world. In the last 12 months the USA has imposed tariffs on our exports to the USA, regardless of the fact that the balance of payments was neutral. Imposing a toll on our exports and imports to and from the Middle East has us as a nation pissed off.
“They don’t have to. The requirement is for the uniform to be recognised as the uniform of a soldier etc of that nation.“
You missed my point @Jughead but that’s okay.
Not worth reacting to since it’s never gonna happen. Real “Mexico is gonna pay for the wall” energy.
Good link for Hormuz news buffs:
Strait of Hormuz Live Tracker — Real-Time Shipping & Oil Crisis Monitor Strait of Hormuz Live Tracker — Real-Time Shipping & Oil Crisis Monitor
Old Indian wisdom explains it:
Cyprus perspective on current Hormuz drama.
In America’s first use of sea drones in combat operations, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran, July 12, 2026. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base in strikes made to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping.
Hormuz getting messy.
3 missile hits reported in last 24 hrs…
https://www.ukmto.org/recent-incidents
… and now a collision & sinking!
Iran war live: US confirms new ‘wave of strikes’ as Tehran hits Gulf states | News | Al Jazeera
… other versions of the story abound…
Here’s a look at the day’s major developments:
- The US has resumed its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
- The US has also launched a new wave of attacks across Iran, with explosions reported in Sirik, eastern Hormozgan, Bampur, Chabahar, Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, and on Qeshm Island.
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it destroyed US weapons in Kuwait and Bahrain.
- US President Donald Trump claimed to Fox News that the US and Iran held talks on Tuesday, even as the US continues attacking Iran.
- Trump also said the “Strikes on Iran will continue until I say enough”.
- The US president rolled back his claim that Washington would charge a 20 percent tariff on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, saying instead that Gulf countries would invest in the US.
- The US Treasury Department has issued new sanctions against Iran, targeting several individuals, entities and vessels.
Iran live updates: US launches daytime strikes, IRGC claims targeting of US bases
Repeated exchanges of fire with U.S. forces appear to be prompting Iranian leaders to contemplate further escalation. Late Tuesday, official news channel IRIB issued a statement claiming that Iran will close down all oil and gas export routes out of the Mideast if the U.S. keeps up its newly-reimposed blockade on Iran’s seaports.
Iran Threatens to Close Off All Oil and Gas Export Routes From Gulf Region
Isn’t there a better (and cheaper) ways of stopping merchant ships than firing rockets at them, risking the life of seafarers in the process?:
What will be the aftermath of the Hormuz crisis, if it ever ends?:
U.S. fires new strikes on Iran and an oil tanker going to Kharg Island : NPR U.S. fires new strikes on Iran and an oil tanker going to Kharg Island : NPR
Yes. The ship stops itself when ordered. That’s the safest way for seafarers in every case. Don’t fight with warships. You’ll lose.
I’m old enough to remember a time when ships went through the strait freely, without missiles or tolls. 
Buckle up, buckaroos. The bosses want this to continue for quite a long time.