Iranian state media reported that explosions were heard in Fars, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman and Sistan and Baluchistan Provinces.
However, traffic through the strait has slowed to a crawl during the latest violence. Lloyd’s List Intelligence said only three ships transited the strait on Sunday (July 19, 2026).
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said a tanker came under attack early Tuesday (July 20, 2026) in the strait off Oman, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed the attack, as well as two other attacks on ships Monday (July 20, 2026) in the waterway.
The route around Oman has been the one the U.S. military has encouraged ships to travel to avoid Iran’s control. The UKMTO separately reported on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) that another previously unknown attack on a ship took place early the previous day.
Tehran also hit U.S.-allied countries throughout the Middle East. Jordan military’s said on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) that Iran targeted it with five drones, all of which were shot down.
