The US launched more strikes against Iran as it once again imposed a blockade of all Iranian ports Tuesday — that could send Iran’s struggling economy back into a tailspin.

The military effort to “continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping” began at 3 p.m. ET, with the blockade beginning an hour later, US Central Command said in a statement.

“There are currently more than 20 US Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft operating across the Middle East,” CENTCOM added.

The Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, a major port in in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, ahead of the US reimpose its blockade on all Iranian ports. AFP via Getty Images

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Regional sources with whom The Post spoke on Tuesday described the blockade as the next step necessary to tighten the screws on a defiant Tehran, with one official saying targeting Iran’s economy does “much more” to move the needle than missile strikes.

Under the blockade, only Iranian ships and Tehran’s customers will be unable to use the strait, while all other countries have fair use. 

The blockade threatens to send Iran’s struggling economy back into a tailspin in retaliation for Tehran’s strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and failure to progress with nuclear concessions. AFP via Getty Images

Emirati geopolitical commentator Abdulqader Almenhali said Gulf states are welcoming the blockade because “it is specific, not a blanket shutdown of the strait.”

“Everyone else keeps moving,” he said. “That is the distinction Tehran does not want people to understand, because their entire play depends on convincing the world that any pressure on Iran means pain for everyone.”

Shipping experts say the blockade and the US presence will help ensure the strait can stay open while also punishing Iran.

“The only way to actually have the Strait of Hormuz operable in a contested environment is to have United States military capacity and presence,” said Brandon Daniels, CEO of AI supply chain company Exiger.

“All major shipping line CEOs, including those from the US, EU, Middle East and Asia, have said this to me personally as we have seen the Middle East become a disruption hot spot over the last five years.”

However, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Tuesday claimed in Iranian state media that Tehran would continue to impose “full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, no matter the costs,” setting the stage for a possible strait showdown.

Even without one, it is unclear how much traffic will be immediately able to pass through, as Iran regularly targeted ships in the Strait of Hormuz during the US’ first blockade on Iranian ports — which was lifted as part of the now-defunct US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed last month.

Traffic was ticking along with about 22 commercial transits over the past 24 hours leading up to the blockade, according to maritime tracking data.

Prior to the war, the average daily traffic ranged between 130 to 150 transits per day.