Iran attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz early on Tuesday (July 21, 2026), forcing its crew to abandon the ship, while the United States conducted yet another round of airstrikes targeting the Islamic Republic as they struggle over control of the key waterway.
The 10 consecutive nights of U.S. airstrikes haven’t compelled Tehran to loosen its grip on the Strait, through which about a fifth of all crude oil and natural gas traded once passed in peacetime.
Even as the U.S. and Iran inch closer to all-out war again, Iran’s Interior Minister travelled to Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict, for talks. However, it remains unclear just what new deal could be reached to end the fighting.
The interim deal signed last month that was meant to end the fighting has crumbled. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. And as fighting intensifies, both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people.
