The U.S. military has restarted its naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, stopping ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports while allowing other vessels to pass through. The blockade began at 4 p.m. EDT, as confirmed by the U.S. Central Command (Centcom). It comes after a previous lift of the blockade last month. Over 20 U.S. Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft are currently active in the Middle East.

American forces remain ready and alert, according to Centcom. Prior to the blockade, the U.S. executed a series of strikes against Iran over four consecutive days, with the aim of reducing Tehran’s capacity to target commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic route facilitates approximately 20 percent of global oil and gas flow.

Recent tensions escalated with Iran targeting two UAE tankers in the strait using cruise missiles, as reported by the UAE Ministry of Defense. Kuwait’s military intercepted one Iranian ballistic missile, five cruise missiles, and 33 attack drones, leading to injuries for four soldiers on a Kuwaiti Navy vessel.

President Trump decided to discard his previous proposal about imposing a 20 percent charge on cargo passing through the strait. On Tuesday morning, he announced plans to pursue trade and investment discussions with Gulf nations. He stated the blockade would apply solely to ships coming from or going to Iranian ports or carrying Iranian-related cargo.

Meanwhile, the Senate Democrats blocked a motion for advancing the annual $1.15 trillion defense authorization bill, which typically receives bipartisan support but faces contention over defense spending. The motion failed with a vote of 50 to 46, falling short of the required 60 votes.

Additionally, Senators led by Kirsten Gillibrand are urging the Trump administration to disclose findings from a Pentagon probe into a strike at a girls’ school in Iran that resulted in 175 casualties, mostly children.

The U.S. military continued airstrikes targeting threats from Iran, marking the fourth consecutive day of military action. Following President Trump’s announcements, these actions aim to address the emerging threats from Tehran.

In other news, ICE has reportedly instructed officers to temporarily pause traffic stops following two fatal shootings. This directive has not been publicly confirmed by the agency.

Upcoming events in the defense realm include discussions on AI-driven cyber defense and hearings on Colombian affairs and counterintelligence.

Among trending topics, a study on women in combat is underway, drawing criticism, and a Navy drone program is facing political challenges.