Iran has launched attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz since February 2026 to restrict transit and gain leverage over Washington during negotiations.

The armed conflict between the United States and Iran and the political fight it set off at home, from strikes and the naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz to negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. Debated through war powers, munitions stocks and household costs.

Since February 28, 2026, the crisis has escalated from military confrontation into a sustained disruption of one of the world's most critical energy shipping routes. Restricted traffic, higher insurance costs, and mounting pressure on oil and LNG flows had turned the standoff into a broader global shipping and market shock. Iran said it attacked two U.S. vessels and eight tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, describing the action as retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iranian shipping. Washington denied that American warships had been hit. The competing attacks have further reduced commercial traffic through the strait and increased the risks faced by neutral vessels and their crews.