On December 15, 2025, a U.S. Sailor signaled an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as part of U.S. naval blockade operations in regional waters off the coast of Iran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a Singapore-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing two senior U.S. officials. The attack damaged the ship but caused no casualties, according to a statement from the British Maritime Trade Operations organization.
Oman is collaborating with the United States to create a secure maritime corridor for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, bypassing routes controlled by the Islamic Republic of Iran. This move aims to prevent Iran from collecting tolls from commercial ships passing through the strait.
The ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the U.S. Secretary of State issued a joint statement emphasizing the need to confront Iranian threats, including ballistic missiles, drones, and support for proxy forces, to achieve regional peace and security. The statement also stressed the importance of free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and outlined conditions for future trade and investment with Iran, contingent upon Iran's adherence to international agreements and cessation of destabilizing behaviors.
On July 4, 2025, Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi stated during a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that no transit fees will be imposed in the Strait of Hormuz. The previous day, Oman had directed ships to use a provisional route in the strait, prompting an IRGC statement that the alternative route is unacceptable and poses a security risk.
