Live: Trump backs down from 20 per cent Strait of Hormuz toll as US blockade looms

US President Donald Trump says he will not charge a 20 per cent toll on traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, just hours before the US Navy's blockade is set to resume.

The US has continued to strike Iran, and the Kuwait Army has said one of its naval vessels was targeted by an attack that injured four personnel.

Follow our live blog below for updates.

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Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:14am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:14am

📷: Fire at Iran's Kish Island port after yesterday's strikes

Key Event

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:09am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:09am

US blockade of Iran goes into effect

By Fergus Gregg

The deadline given by US President Donald Trump and reaffirmed by US Central Command this morning has passed, meaning the blockade of Iran is, once again, in effect.

What this means is that any ships leaving or bound for Iranian ports can be boarded and seized by US military forces.

CENTCOM confirmed the blockade in another post to X.

"There are currently more than 20 US Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft operating across the Middle East," it said.

"American forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready."

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:00am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:00am

Iran confirms MoU with United States is effectively 'dismantled'

By Andrew Thorpe

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has confirmed Tehran considers the Memorandum of Understanding signed last month by Iran and the US to be null and void, after the latest round of strikes and the renewed blockade.

"America not only violated the Memorandum of Understanding, but also dismantled it," Mr Gharibabadi told state broadcaster IRIB.

"The failure to implement one of the clauses was enough to collapse the entire memorandum of understanding, and now America has violated all of its obligations."

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:59am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:59am

Trump says 20 per cent toll was dropped after he was 'called by different people'

By Fergus Gregg

US President Donald Trump has revealed he dropped the 20 per cent toll on the Strait of Hormuz after he was called by "different people, different countries, kings and emirs and all of the people that we all know and we all love".

Speaking to reporters in the White House, Mr Trump said he thought his toll was "good" when he announced it yesterday, but the leaders of some of the Gulf states contacted him and said, instead of a toll, "we'd love to invest in the United States with billions and billions of dollars".

Mr Trump then said he didn't think anybody should be able to charge a toll on the strait, and he didn't "like the concept of a fee".

"But it's unfair that we're not somehow compensated," he said.

Reporting with Reuters

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:50am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:50am

US strikes Bandar Abbas ahead of naval blockade deadline

By Andrew Thorpe

Iran's state news agency, IRNA, is reporting three large explosions in Bandar Abbas, a port city bordering the Strait of Hormuz that has come under heavy attack from the United States over the past few days.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:48am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:48am

Strait of Hormuz part of Iran's national security, says deputy foreign minister

By Fergus Gregg

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says the Strait of Hormuz is part of Iran's national security, and it will exercise its sovereignty over it, whatever that costs, in an interview on State TV.

The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.

Reporting with Reuters

Key Event

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:42am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:42am

Four injured in Iranian attack on Kuwaiti Navy vessel, says Kuwait's military

By Fergus Gregg

A Kuwaiti Navy vessel was targeted in an Iranian attack, injuring four armed forces personnel, Kuwait's army has said in a statement.

The injured personnel received medical treatment and were in stable condition, the statement added.

Kuwait's armed forces had detected and intercepted one ballistic missile, five cruise missiles and 33 drones in recent attacks, which targeted several vital and civilian facilities, with debris falling causing material damage.

Kuwait hosts US bases and has come under fire from Iran in recent days, and earlier in the week, the Gulf State claimed Iranian attacks had hit border posts and an offshore drilling platform.

Reporting with Reuters

Key Event

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:37am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:37am

US Central Command launches new strikes on Iran

By Fergus Gregg

US Central Command has announced an additional round of strikes against Iran this morning.

"To continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," it said on X.

"The strikes are taking place as American forces prepare to resume the naval blockade against Iranian ports and coastal areas."

The US blockade of Iran is set to begin from 6am AEST.

Key Event

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:32am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:32am

Trump drops 20 per cent toll on Strait of Hormuz traffic

By Fergus Gregg

In a complete reversal from yesterday, US President Donald Trump has "decided to replace the 20 per cent United States Reimbursement fee".

Mr Trump said the US would instead accept trade and investment deals with the Gulf States.

"Those Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them and their future," he said.

He said the Strait of Hormuz was open to all traffic except for Iran, and the US blockade will only affect "ships coming to and from Iranian ports, or carrying anything to do with Iranian cargo".

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:26am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:26am

Welcome to our live coverage

By Fergus Gregg

Good morning. We're live blogging the conflict in the Middle East once again as the US blockade on Iran is set to take effect from 6am.

Stay with us as we keep you updated.