Iran strengthens control over Hormuz Strait after joint US‑Israel strike

On February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States launched coordinated attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities. Iran responded with a wave of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. installations in the region. Subsequently, Tehran reinforced its hold on the Strait of Hormuz, imposing restrictions on the passage of vessels and ordering a naval blockade that also targeted ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. The United States retaliated by targeting merchant vessels linked to Iranian ports, intensifying the maritime confrontation in the strategic waterway.