US military says it fired on another merchant vessel trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports

Business To Business, Dubai, 25^th July, 2026:   The United States military said on Friday that it fired on another merchant vessel attempting to breach its blockade of Iranian ports, as hostilities between Washington and Tehran intensified for a 13th consecutive night.
The latest development came as Iran targeted American military positions around the Persian Gulf, with both sides showing no indication of de-escalating the conflict despite mounting international concerns.
Amid the escalating tensions, US embassies across the Middle East warned American citizens that opportunities to leave the region could become increasingly limited. At the same time, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) advised residents of neighbouring countries to avoid areas near military bases hosting US forces.
The regional conflict widened further when Saudi Arabia launched strikes on Yemen's port city of Hodeida, according to the Saudi-led coalition, in response to attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
The Houthis said they would intensify their operations after weeks of rising tensions, signalling the end of a prolonged period of relative calm.
The developments underscore the growing risk of a broader regional conflict involving multiple countries and strategic maritime routes across the Middle East.