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The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on September 7, 2026, that U.S. forces have diverted 94 commercial ships as part of an ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports. CENTCOM stated that during this period, the U.S. military also decommissioned three ships and boarded and inspected two others. The command emphasized that these actions were taken to ensure compliance with the blockade.
The situation in the Persian Gulf remains tense, with Iran threatening to retaliate against U.S. oil and gas interests in the region following U.S. strikes on three Iranian oil tankers on September 5. One of the targeted tankers was located near Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that American energy assets in the region could be targeted in response to the U.S. military actions.
The ongoing conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, has significantly disrupted energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. According to an estimate from Brown University’s Iran War Energy Cost Tracker, U.S. consumers have incurred approximately $100 billion in additional gasoline and diesel costs since the start of the conflict. The national average price for gasoline reached $4.15 per gallon as of September 7.
In other regional developments, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed alarm on September 7 regarding the escalation of violence. Turk cited reports of civilian casualties, including a September 1 incident in Hormozgan Province where a wedding party was reportedly hit by a U.S. strike. While the U.S. government has stated it is investigating the reports, Vice President JD Vance expressed skepticism regarding the information originating from Tehran.
Additionally, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that it remains unable to verify the status of Iran’s nuclear material and facilities due to a lack of access. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi described the situation as a matter of serious proliferation concern. Meanwhile, in the Iranian city of Semnan, authorities are investigating a clash that occurred on September 7 between Iranian and Iraqi students, which reportedly took place outside of the university campus.
Article and image source: iraqsun.com
