Wednesday marked a further escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran: Washington carried out a new wave of strikes on Iranian military targets and tightened the blockade of the Persian country’s ports, while Tehran struck U.S. allies in the Gulf and reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed “until the United States ends its aggression.”
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its forces hit dozens of military targets in Iran during a seven-hour operation, using combat aircraft, drones and ships that fired precision munitions at missile and drone sites, naval assets and coastal defense systems. According to the U.S. command, the objective is to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Among the strikes, the port city of Bushehr, which houses the country’s only civilian nuclear plant, was hit in three locations, and a bombardment of a barracks near Iranshahr in southeastern Iran left seven military personnel dead, according to the Iranian army.
Iran, for its part, attacked U.S. bases and targets in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could extend to other regional oil and gas export routes. Meanwhile, Bahrain said it had intercepted another Iranian aerial attack; the death of an Indian sailor who had been missing after the attack on the GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman was confirmed; and Iran’s judiciary executed a protester convicted for participating in the antigovernment demonstrations in January.
Below is minute-by-minute coverage:
The U.S. military says it resumed daytime strikes on Iran as part of its escalation
The U.S. military said it launched a new wave of strikes against Iran at 1000 GMT on Wednesday.
“The strikes are intended to further degrade the military capabilities 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
Full report at this link.
Iran executed a man arrested during the January protests
The Iranian authorities executed on Wednesday a man accused of setting fire to government and police facilities during the antigovernment protests in January in Isfahan province, Mizan News — a media outlet affiliated with the judiciary — reported.
The report said Mohammad Amini Dehaghani was hanged after the Supreme Court upheld the sentence. Judicial authorities allege 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 statements cite surveillance footage and the defendant’s confessions. They also claim that Amini Dehaghani attempted to use a rifle taken from police during the protests.
Oil rises again amid the military escalation in the Middle East
U.S. benchmark crude (WTI) rose $0.86 to $80.20 per barrel, while Brent, the international benchmark, advanced $1.15 to $85.88 per barrel.
On Tuesday, oil closed up 2% and reached a one-month high, driven by strikes that worsened supply concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Brent and WTI have made upward adjustments in line with the escalation of attacks, but the size of the move will likely moderate now as the market awaits any change in posture from the U.S. and Iran,” said June Goh, senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities, in an interview with Reuters.
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U.S. strikes killed seven service members in southeastern Iran
The Iranian Army said it will respond to the attack on the Bambour barracks in Iranshahr, calling it “a cowardly aggression.” “A decisive response will be delivered to this crime at the appropriate time,” the statement cited by Tasnim agency said.
The military reported that 13 U.S. missiles struck facilities at the Bambour barracks, killing seven members of Brigade 388 and wounding several others. The army said that “passive defense measures” limited the number of casualties.
The statement asserted that the U.S. strikes “aimed to cause as many casualties as possible,” and were directed at a guesthouse, guard posts and the base’s accommodation areas.
Death confirmed of an Indian sailor missing after attack off Oman
A missing Indian crew member from the merchant vessel GFS Galaxy, attacked off the coast of Oman, has died, his father-in-law confirmed on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Of the 11 Indian sailors on board, 10 were rescued, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.
Former Iranian foreign minister called for a ground assault on a U.S. base and seizing hostages
Former Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki proposed launching a ground offensive against a U.S. military base in the Middle East and taking hostages to transfer them to Iran.
“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.
Marco Rubio and Jordan’s foreign minister discussed Iranian attacks on vessels in the Middle East
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to address regional security issues, including “the ongoing Iranian attacks against vessels and countries in the region.”
UN Security Council votes to continue monitoring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea
The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution extending U.N. monitoring of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea for six months.
The measure was approved with thirteen votes in favor and abstentions from China and Russia, and it requires the U.N. secretary-general to report monthly to the Council on the situation.
The Yemeni Houthi rebel group began attacks on vessels in the Red Sea at the end of 2023, saying it was targeting ships linked to Israel in response to the conflict in Gaza.
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Ships linked to Iran left the Strait of Hormuz ahead of the U.S. blockade
Data from maritime tracking showed an increase on Tuesday in the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, most linked to Iranian trade, ahead of a U.S. blockade set to take effect on Wednesday. Kpler records indicate that nine of the eleven ships that crossed that day did so via the Iranian route.
Among vessels entering the strait were three empty tankers — an Aframax and two other large tankers. On the departures side, the records show a VLCC carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil, a medium tanker transporting refined products, and two other ships moving liquefied petroleum gas.
Commercial traffic also included a methanol tanker and a bulk carrier with iron ore, both leaving the Gulf on Tuesday.
Jordan’s army said it shot down three missiles launched by Iran
The Jordanian Army reported that its air defense systems intercepted and shot down three ballistic missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory. In an official statement, authorities said teams from the Royal Engineers handled debris from the downed missiles at various locations, following technical and safety protocols, and secured 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 maintains the highest level of aerial vigilance.
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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck Gulf countries after CENTCOM’s operation
In the early hours of Wednesday, Iran’s military announced new drone strikes against U.S. facilities in the Middle East amid the latest escalation between Tehran and Washington. A statement carried by Tasnim, an agency linked to the IRGC, said the Al Azraq airbase in Jordan — where F-18 fighters, billeting and equipment depots were located — was attacked with drones.
The military defended the operation, called “Lightning,” and said “the era of slaps in the face is over,” adding that any action against the country’s land, waters or airspace will not go unanswered or without a proportional cost.
The IRGC also reported that its Navy and Aerospace Force struck a U.S. warehouse at Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain and targeted U.S. drones at Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait. According to the statement, “in a simultaneous missile and drone operation, fighters from the Navy and Aerospace Force destroyed several depots of weapons and spare parts for enemy ships and aircraft at Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain.”
The military bulletin also said they “attacked the 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 “the harms of the United States are over”
The IRGC announced that the strategic waterway will remain closed until U.S. actions cease, according to a statement released on Tuesday. The military organization said the U.S. attacked Iranian bases “under the pretext of striking violating ships” trying to transit the strait, “to hide its defeat and incapacity.”
The statement added that “no ship dared to violate [the Iranian blockade] or accompany the United States,” and therefore “naturally there were 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 leaders of the Iranian regime reflect the success of President Donald Trump’s policy toward Tehran. Miller made the comments during an interview with Fox News.
According to the U.S. official, Iran’s leadership currently faces “huge fissures the size of cannons” after decades of unity. Miller reiterated that the United States urges Iran to support a peace program and abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Pezeshkian vowed to defend “every inch” of Iran amid the 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 the U.S. president said he had removed most of Iran’s military capabilities. “We will defend every inch of our homeland with our actions,” Pezeshkian told state television.
The president’s remarks came against a backdrop of escalating hostilities, after the United States carried out bombings in southern Iran following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against U.S. targets in the region.
“Their rhetoric continues, but the question is: have they achieved their objectives on the battlefield?” Pezeshkian asked, responding to statements by Trump and U.S. military actions.
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