July 14, 2026 — US naval blockade of Iranian ports goes into effect

Our live coverage has moved • Get the latest on the war with Iran here . Read more All Catch up 68 Posts Link Copied! Today's takeaways • Blockade underway: The US has reimposed its naval blockade of Iranian ports, according to a US military statement. The US previously enforced a blockade between April and June. • Fourth day of strikes: Attacks were reported across the region as the US launched and completed another day of strikes on Iranian targets. Iranian state media also reported Tehran struck US military assets in Jordan. • US warning: In a TV interview, President Donald Trump warned the US would strike bridges and power plants next week unless Tehran returns to the negotiating table. This is not the first time he’s made such a threat, using blustery warnings as a negotiating tactic. • Trump rescinds toll decision: Earlier, he announced the US will not impose a 20% reimbursement fee on cargo moving through the Strait of Hormuz, saying it will be replaced by Gulf state investments in the US. Read more Link Copied! China misses growth target for first time since Covid as Iran turmoil roils global trade By Stephanie Yang The wind and photovoltaic power station on the top of Mount Mi in Xuzhuang Town, Shanting District, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province, China on July 8, 2026 CFOTO/Future Publishing/Getty Images China is struggling to offset economic challenges both at home and abroad, as its economy grew at a slower-than-expected pace in the second quarter of the year. On Wednesday, China’s National Bureau of Statistics said the economy grew 4.3% in the quarter ending June 30, compared to the same period a year ago. The figures, which fell short of expectations for 4.5% growth, are a rare admission of economic weakness for China, which has long worked to prop up industrial activity with infrastructure investment and exports. The weaker economic data is a sign that sluggish consumption at home is outweighing recent strength in Chinese exports, and the nation is not immune from the economic turmoil caused by the war in Iran. Higher energy costs during the war in Iran have helped lift China out of one of its longest periods of deflation, as the nation struggles with industrial overcapacity and sluggish domestic demand. However, the continuation of attacks between the US and Iran could pose challenges to China’s economy. While China has buffered itself from the broader supply shocks, more expensive fuel and commodities could weigh on consumer sentiment and disrupt manufacturing. Read more about China’s economic growth here . Read more Link Copied! US completes another round of strikes against Iran By Clay Voytek Video released by CENTCOM shows the latest round of strikes on Iran US Central Command The US completed another round of strikes against Iran at 10 p.m. ET, hitting dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and coastal areas, US Central Command said in a social media post. “US fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels launched precision munitions against Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and coastal defense systems during the seven-hour wave to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews,” CENTCOM wrote on X . This is the fourth consecutive night the US has conducted strikes against Iran. Earlier today, the US resumed its naval blockade of ships going to and from Iranian ports. Read more Link Copied! Iranian drone appears to strike warehouse in Kuwait, video shows By Isaac Yee Video geolocated by CNN appears to show an Iranian Shahed drone striking an already-burning warehouse in an industrial area of Kuwait From Social Media Video geolocated by CNN appears to show an Iranian drone striking an already-burning warehouse in an industrial area near Mina Abdullah in Kuwait. The footage shows a projectile in the sky, consistent with a Shahed drone, flying toward the burning warehouse before striking it and triggering a large explosion. A sound consistent with a Shahed drone is audible throughout the clip until the moment of impact. Iran’s revolutionary guards claimed early Wednesday local time that they had struck a US Army logistics and support center located in Mina Abdullah. They said the building was “set on fire and destroyed.” It’s not clear if there is any US link to the building seen on fire in the video. CNN has requested comment from US Central Command on the Iranian claim. In the video, emergency crews are seen responding to the pre-existing fire at the site at the moment of the blast. Late Tuesday local time, the Kuwait Fire Force said they had extinguished a blaze “caused by a hostile Iranian aerial aggression,” the official Kuwait News Agency reported, without listing a location for the fire. CNN geolocated the video by matching it to high-resolution satellite imagery of an industrial park near the Mina Abdullah area. A police car seen in the foreground is also consistent with a type used by the Kuwait Police Force. Data from NASA’s Fire Information Resource Management System also showed heat signatures coming from the area of the apparent strike. Read more Link Copied! Rubio condemns Iran's "unacceptable" strikes on Jordan By Lex Harvey US Secretary Marco Rubio, right, walks with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi as they meet at the State Department in Washington, DC, on Tueday, July 14. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Iran’s latest strikes on Jordan, calling them “unacceptable” in a Tuesday meeting with the country’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi in Washington, DC, according to a State Department statement. Iran has repeatedly targeted military infrastructure in Jordan in recent days as fighting with the US has escalated. The Iranian Army said it had launched new drone strikes on the Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, where US military assets are based, early on Tuesday morning local time. Rubio and Safadi discussed a range of issues in their Tuesday meeting, “including the Iranian regime’s ongoing attacks on shipping and against countries in the region,” spokesperson Tommy Pigott said. Rubio also thanked Safadi for Jordan’s “important role in advancing regional security,” Pigott said. Read more Link Copied! Water bottling facility near Iran-Iraq border damaged, Iranian state media claims By Hira Humayun A water bottling plant in Iran was damaged in what state media said was an enemy attack. The mineral water production facility in Dehloran county, near the border with Iraq, was hit by three “enemy projectiles,” state news agency IRNA reported. The attack in the early hours of Wednesday did not cause any casualties but damaged the factory’s equipment, said Morad Yeganeh, the region’s governor, IRNA reported. The report did not specify who was believed to be responsible for the strike. Yasha Saebi contributed reporting. Read more Link Copied! Kuwait responds to "hostile drone threats" while sirens sound in Bahrain By Kathleen Magramo and Eyad Kourdi The Gulf nations of Kuwait and Bahrain have warned their citizens of incoming threats, just hours after the US reimposed its naval blockade of Iranian ports on Tuesday night. Kuwait’s military it was responding to drones approaching from Iran, saying that “any explosion sounds that may be heard are the result of the Air Defense systems intercepting hostile attacks.” Bahrain’s interior ministry urged citizens to remain calm and head to safety as sirens have been sounded. Iran launched multiple strikes at Bahrain on Tuesday, triggering sirens at multiple times. Iran’s revolutionary guards claimed to have “destroyed” the control center for US unmanned boats in an attack on Bahrain, the semi-official Fars News said. Earlier in the day, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) directed airlines to avoid airspace over Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and a swath of water over the Gulf of Oman as the conflict between the US and Iran intensifies. Read more Link Copied! US “holding Iran accountable” after commercial vessel crew members killed, military says By Mary Kay Mallonee Iran has targeted civilians by striking seven commercial ships in the last week — leaving nearly a dozen crew members killed, missing or injured, the US military said Tuesday. “Over the past seven days, Iran has intentionally targeted civilians across the region by attacking seven commercial ships resulting in nearly a dozen civilian crew members killed, missing, or injured,” CENTCOM commander, Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement Tuesday evening. “Iranian forces have also launched dozens of missiles and drones toward neighboring Gulf countries. U.S. forces are holding Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression that continues to endanger innocent lives,” he said. Cooper’s statement comes shortly after President Donald Trump warned that the US would strike Iranian infrastructure next week, including bridges and power plants, unless Tehran returns to the negotiation table. Trump also said the US strikes on Iran will “continue until I say it’s enough.” Read more Link Copied! US launches more strikes while re-imposing blockade on Iranian ports. Here's the latest By Tori B. Powell Video Ad Feedback U.S. renews blockade on Iranian ports 1:18 • Source: CNN U.S. renews blockade on Iranian ports 1:18 US forces have been helping defend Kuwait from a steady stream of Iranian retaliatory attacks on Tuesday, including by using Patriot missile systems that are part of a strained US stockpile, according to two US officials. Four members of Kuwait’s armed forces were wounded by an Iranian attack on a Kuwaiti naval vessel, the country’s Defense Ministry said. The US military also launched its fourth consecutive day of strikes on Iranian targets, according to US Central Command. Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said the port city of Bandar Abbas and several locations near Sirik were hit. Here’s what else you should know: Reimposed blockade: The US military’s naval blockade of ships going to and from Iranian ports resumed at 4 p.m. ET, US Central Command said. The US previously enforced a blockade between April and June. Iranian deaths: A US strike in southern Iran killed three members of a park ranger’s family, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said. Interview on Fox News: President Donald Trump warned that the US would strike bridges and power plants in Iran “next week” unless Tehran returns to the negotiating table. It’s not the first time Trump has threatened to strike power plants and bridges in Iran, and he’s frequently used aggressive and blustery threats as a negotiating tactic without following through. Trump also said Iran won’t “have anybody left” if it doesn’t make a deal. Iran’s stance: Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said that Tehran has “ no obligations ” to the 14-point agreement with the US that was reached last month. Defense policy package: Senate Democrats blocked the annual defense policy package, a must-pass piece of legislation that usually passes with large bipartisan support, amid their objections over the war in Iran. Frozen cryptocurrency: The Trump administration has frozen more than $130 million in cryptocurrency it says is linked to Iran. CNN’s Mohammed Tawfeeq, Eyad Kourdi, Zachary Cohen, Pamela Brown, Davis Winkie, Morgan Rimmer, Hira Humayun, Yasha Saebi, Haley Britzky, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Kit Maher and Jennifer Hansler contributed reporting. Read more Link Copied! House eyes key vote next week on defense spending bill, including funding for Iran war By Ellis Kim and Manu Raju The US House of Representatives will vote next week on a budget resolution that will set the stage to pass President Donald Trump’s third agenda package, which is likely to include money for the war with Iran, according to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. While the details of the bill are still being ironed out, GOP leaders are aiming to use the legislation to pass funding for the Iran war, address some of Trump’s desired changes to federal election laws, and more. The administration has requested around $87.6 billion to cover funding for the war and other Pentagon priorities. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended spending for the Iran war when pressed by CNN on Tuesday. “What we’re looking at right now is refilling the stock, refilling munitions,” the speaker