Wednesday brought a new escalation in the confrontation between the United States and Iran: Washington carried out another round of strikes against Iranian military targets and strengthened its blockade of the country’s ports, while Tehran struck U.S. allies in the Gulf and warned that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed “until the United States ends its aggression.”
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its forces struck dozens of military targets in Iran during a seven-hour operation, using fighter jets, drones and ships that fired precision munitions at missile and drone sites, naval capabilities and coastal defense systems. According to the U.S. command, the objective was to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Among the strikes, the port city of Bushehr, home to the country’s only civilian nuclear plant, was hit in three locations, while a strike on a barracks near Iranshahr in southeastern Iran killed seven servicemen, according to the Iranian army.
Iran, for its part, attacked U.S. bases and positions in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that the closure of Hormuz could be extended to other regional oil and gas export routes. Meanwhile, Bahrain said it intercepted a new Iranian aerial attack; the death of an Indian sailor who had been missing after the attack on the vessel GFS Galaxy off Oman’s coast was confirmed; and Iran’s judiciary executed a demonstrator convicted in the antigovernment protests of earlier this year.
Below is minute-by-minute coverage:
U.S. military says it resumed daytime strikes on Iran as part of its escalation
The U.S. military said it began a new wave of strikes against Iran at 10:00 GMT on Wednesday.
“The strikes are intended to further degrade the military capabilities that Iranian forces have used to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz,” U.S. Central Command said in a post on X.
At 6 a.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran. The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 15, 2026
Iran executed a man arrested during January protests
Iran’s authorities executed a man on Wednesday who was accused of setting fire to government and police facilities during the countrywide protests in January in Isfahan province, Mizan News, a judiciary-linked outlet, reported.
The report identified the executed man as Mohammad Amini Dehaghani and said he was hanged after the Supreme Court upheld the sentence. Judicial authorities stated that on January 9 he threw Molotov cocktails at the governor’s office in Dehaghan and at the central police station, and incited others to attack officers.
Official accounts cite surveillance recordings and the suspect’s confessions. Authorities also allege Amini Dehaghani attempted to use a rifle taken from police during the protests.
Oil rises again amid Middle East military escalation
U.S. benchmark crude (WTI) rose $0.86 to $80.20 per barrel, while Brent, the international benchmark, gained $1.15 to $85.88 per barrel.
On Tuesday, oil closed up 2% and hit a one-month high, driven by strikes that intensified supply concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Brent and WTI have moved higher in line with the escalation of attacks, but the size of the move is likely to moderate now as the market waits to see any posture changes by the U.S. and Iran,” said June Goh, senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities, in comments to Reuters.
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U.S. strikes killed seven servicemen in southeastern Iran
Iran’s army said it will respond to the strike on the Bambour barracks in Iranshahr, calling it “a cowardly aggression.” “A decisive response will be delivered for this crime at the appropriate time,” the statement quoted by Tasnim said.
The military reported that 13 U.S. missiles struck facilities in the Bambour barracks, killing seven members of the 388th Brigade and wounding several others. The army said passive defense measures limited the number of casualties.
The statement claimed the U.S. strikes “sought to inflict the maximum number of casualties possible,” targeting a guesthouse, guard posts and accommodation areas at the base.
Death confirmed of Indian sailor missing after attack off Oman
An Indian national who had been missing following the attack on the merchant vessel GFS Galaxy off Oman’s coast has died, his father-in-law confirmed on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Of the 11 Indian crew members aboard, 10 were rescued, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.
Former Iranian foreign minister urged a ground assault on a U.S. base and taking hostages
Former Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki proposed a ground offensive against a U.S. military base in the Middle East and the seizure of hostages to be taken into Iranian territory.
“My proposal is to launch a ground attack on one of the U.S. bases in the region, capture 100 Americans and take them to Iran,” Mottaki, now a member of parliament, said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Jordan’s foreign minister discussed Iranian attacks on vessels
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to discuss regional security issues, including “the ongoing Iranian attacks on vessels and countries in the region.”
UN Security Council votes to continue monitoring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea
The UN Security Council approved a resolution extending UN monitoring of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea for six months.
The measure passed with 13 votes in favor and abstentions from China and Russia, and it requires the UN Secretary-General to report monthly to the Council on the situation.
The Yemeni Houthi rebel group began targeting vessels in the Red Sea in late 2023, saying it was attacking ships linked to Israel in response to the Gaza conflict.
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Iran-linked vessels left the Strait of Hormuz ahead of the U.S. blockade
Data from maritime trackers showed an increase on Tuesday in the number of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, most linked to Iranian trade, ahead of a U.S. blockade that was to take effect on Wednesday. Kpler records indicate nine of the eleven vessels that passed that day used the Iranian route.
Among vessels entering the strait were three empty oil tankers: one Aframax and two larger tankers. On departures, data show a VLCC carried 2 million barrels of crude oil, one medium tanker transported refined products, and two other ships moved liquefied petroleum gas.
Commercial traffic also included a methanol tanker and a bulk carrier loaded with iron ore, both departing the Gulf on Tuesday.
Jordanian military says it shot down three missiles launched from Iran
The Jordanian Armed Forces said their air defenses intercepted and shot down three ballistic missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory. In an official statement, authorities said Royal Engineers teams handled debris from the downed missiles at various locations, followed technical and safety protocols, and secured the affected areas to protect civilians and property.
“The Jordanian Armed Forces reject any violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty or the use of its airspace to threaten its security and stability,” the military said, adding that it is maintaining the highest level of aerial vigilance.
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Iran’s Revolutionary Guard struck Gulf states after CENTCOM operation
The Iranian military announced in the early hours of Wednesday that it carried out new drone strikes against U.S. military facilities in the Middle East amid the latest escalation with Washington. A statement distributed by Tasnim, linked to the Revolutionary Guard, said the Al Azraq airbase in Jordan — where F-18 fighters, accommodation and U.S. equipment depots were located — was targeted by drones.
The military defended the operation, called “Lightning,” saying “the era of slap-on-the-face strikes is over” and that any action against Iran’s land, waters or airspace “will not go unanswered or without a proportional cost.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also reported naval and aerospace strikes against a U.S. warehouse at Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain and against U.S. drones at Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait. The statement said “in a simultaneous missile-and-drone operation, naval and aerospace units of the IRGC destroyed several arms and spare-parts depots for enemy ships and aircraft at Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain a few hours ago.”
The report also said the forces attacked a ramp where enemy MQ-9 drones were deployed at Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait, destroying or damaging several of them.
Iran: the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until “U.S. harms end”
The Revolutionary Guard announced that the strategic waterway will remain closed until U.S. actions cease, according to a statement released Tuesday. The military accused U.S. forces of striking Iranian bases “under the pretext of attacking violator ships” attempting to transit the strait, “to conceal their defeat and incapacity.”
The IRGC said no vessel “dared to breach [the Iranian blockade] or to escort the United States,” and added that as a result “there were naturally no impacts” during the operation.
White House: “Divisions in Iran show the success of Trump’s policy”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said internal divisions among Iran’s leaders reflect the success of President Donald Trump’s policy toward Tehran. Miller made the comments in an interview with Fox News.
The U.S. official said Iran’s leadership is facing “huge fissures the size of cannons” after decades of unity. He reiterated that the United States urges Iran to back a peace program and abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Pezeshkian vows to defend “every inch” of Iran amid new escalation with the U.S.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country will defend “every inch” of its territory amid rising tensions with the United States, after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed to have eliminated much of Iran’s military capacity. “We will defend every inch of our homeland by our actions,” Pezeshkian told state television.
The president’s remarks came against a backdrop of increasing hostilities, after U.S. strikes in southern Iran followed Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has responded with missile and drone launches against U.S. targets in the region.
“Their rhetoric continues, but the question is: have they achieved their objectives on the battlefield?” Pezeshkian asked, challenging Trump’s statements and U.S. military actions.
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