--- title: "US Strikes on Iran and the Threat of Strait Blockades: Oil Prices Rise Again" description: "The US has launched a new wave of strikes on Iran to weaken the threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸ’₯. Amid the risk of the Houthis blocking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Brent oil prices have soared to $85.72 β›½πŸ“ˆ. Experts are sounding the alarm: in the event of escalation, a barrel could cost $100." date: 2026-07-15T11:58:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-strikes-on-iran-and-the-threat-of-strait-blockades-oil-prices-rise-again tags: [centcom, iran, oil-prices, houthi, strait-of-hormuz] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # US Strikes on Iran and the Threat of Strait Blockades: Oil Prices Rise Again ![Smoke from explosion over Iranian city after US strikes, threat of strait blockade and rising oil prices](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/15/udary-ssha-po-iranu-i-ugroza-blokirovki-prolivov-neft-snova-dorogaet/udary-ssha-po-iranu-i-ugroza-blokirovki-prolivov-neft-snova-dorogaet-1.webp) At 6:00 AM Eastern Time, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a new wave of strikes on Iran. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine citing a military statement. An official representative of the command emphasized that the attacks are intended to further weaken the military capabilities that Iranian forces use to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. ### Deterrence Strategy The CENTCOM statement does not specify the number of targets or their exact locations. However, the context of the operation clarifies Washington's strategic intentions: to prevent a recurrence of scenarios where Iranian forces could paralyze key maritime arteries. Experts note that Tehran views an alliance with the Houthis in Yemen as a way to replicate the pressure tactics on the Strait of Hormuz, but in a different region β€” the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. ### Threat from the South Tensions in the region are escalating. On July 13, a Yemeni official warned that Houthi armed forces are ready to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. This threat creates a double risk for the global market: blocking two critically important straits simultaneously could lead to a global disruption of logistics chains. ### Market Reacts Instantly Financial markets reacted to the escalation of the conflict with a sharp rise in quotes. Against the backdrop of news about a new wave of US strikes, oil prices rose again β€” Brent futures climbed to $85.72 per barrel. Analysts warn that further escalation of the conflict could push the cost of "black gold" to the psychologically important mark of $100 per barrel.