Iran war news LIVE: Fresh strikes hit Iran's Mahshahr, Abadan county; vessel attacked off Oman coast

US forces carried out another wave of strikes on Iran on July 14, hitting multiple cities including Bushehr, Chabahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas, while explosions and sirens were reported across the Gulf. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it retaliated with missile and drone strikes on the US Al Juffair base in Bahrain. In a separate maritime incident, the chemical tanker Stolt Magnesium suffered an explosion off the coast of Oman, which Stolt Tankers said was caused by an external device and led to a fire in the ship’s engine room. The escalating tit-for-tat comes as US President Donald Trump announced a blockade on Iranian ports and said the United States would secure the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20% transit fee on vessels navigating the waterway.

"The vessel suffered an explosion from an external device off the coast of Oman, following which a fire broke out in its engine room," Stolt Tankers said, naming the ship as Stolt Magnesium.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it "completed its latest wave of strikes" against Iranian targets at 7:45 am IST on July 14, describing the operation as a five-hour mission. Iranian state media reported that projectiles struck Abadan county and Mahshahr, and that at least three members of a family were killed in earlier US attacks. Multiple explosions were also heard west of Bandar Abbas. The IRGC claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes against US facilities in Bahrain, and Iran said its forces had targeted US military bases in Kuwait and struck what it called "a hostile vessel of the American enemy."

The maritime incidents have compounded regional alarm. UKMTO and other maritime monitors reported missile and explosion activity near the Strait of Hormuz and off Oman’s coast. A tanker near Oman was reported hit by a missile earlier in the day, and UKMTO issued updates that included a second tanker hit off Oman in the same 24-hour period. India has been drawn into the crisis: one Indian crew member was killed and eight others injured after two UAE oil tankers were struck by Iranian missiles, prompting India to summon Iran’s deputy envoy and to raise maritime security concerns at international forums.

• CENTCOM: US forces struck six Iranian cities in a five-hour mission concluding at 7:45 am IST on July 14.
• IRGC: Claimed missile and drone strikes on Bahrain's Al Juffair base.
• Stolt Tankers: Confirmed explosion aboard Stolt Magnesium from an external device off Oman, causing engine-room fire.
• Casualties: At least one Indian crew member killed and multiple injuries reported after tanker strikes in the Strait of Hormuz region.

Regional diplomacy moved into overdrive. Oman’s foreign minister was reported to be engaged in complex talks to shape a framework for security in the Strait, and China called for de-escalation while urging both the US and Iran to ensure safe transit. Bahrain said it had foiled multiple missile and drone attacks, and Jordan reported intercepting Iranian missiles. Oil markets reacted quickly: Brent crude jumped around 5% after the strikes, and prices earlier spiked more than 9% when the US announced a naval blockade.

Outlook: The immediate prospects point to continued military and maritime friction. The US blockade and President Trump’s stated plan for a 20% Hormuz transit fee are likely to keep shipping insurers, cargo owners and regional capitals under pressure. Diplomacy is active but fragile: with CENTCOM confirming sustained strike operations, IRGC counterclaims and continued reports of explosions at sea, commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and investor confidence in Gulf maritime trade face heightened uncertainty in the near term.