Wednesday brought a new escalation in the United States–Iran conflict: Washington launched another series of strikes on Iranian military targets and tightened its blockade of the country’s ports, while Tehran struck U.S. partners in the Gulf and repeated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed “until the United States ends its aggression.”
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces hit dozens of military targets across Iran in a seven-hour operation, using fighter jets, drones and ships to deliver precision munitions against missile and drone sites, naval capabilities and coastal defense systems. CENTCOM said the strikes aimed to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Among the strikes, the port city of Bushehr — home to Iran’s only civilian nuclear power plant — was struck in three locations, and an attack on a barracks near Iranshahr in southeastern Iran reportedly killed seven service members, according to Iran’s military.
Iran meanwhile attacked U.S. bases and facilities in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could be extended to other regional oil and gas export routes. Bahrain said it intercepted another Iranian air attack. Separately, one Indian sailor who had been missing since an attack on the merchant vessel GFS Galaxy off Oman was confirmed dead, and Iran’s judiciary executed a person convicted for participating in the January antigovernment protests.
Below is a minute-by-minute account:
U.S. military says it resumed daytime strikes against Iran as part of its escalation
The U.S. military said it began 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 merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM 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
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Iran executed a man arrested during the January protests
Iranian authorities executed a man on Wednesday who was accused of setting fire to government and police facilities during the antigovernment demonstrations in January in Isfahan province, Mizan News — a news outlet linked to the judiciary — reported.
The report identified the executed man as Mohammad Amini Dehaghani, saying he 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 encouraged others to attack officers.
Officials said the conviction is based on surveillance footage and the accused’s confessions, and that he attempted to seize a rifle from police during the protests.
Oil rises again amid military escalation in the Middle East
U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose $0.86 to $80.20 per barrel, while Brent advanced $1.15 to $85.88 per barrel.
On Tuesday oil closed up about 2%, hitting a one-month high as attacks increased supply concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Brent and WTI have moved up in line with the escalation in attacks, but the size of the move will likely moderate now while the market awaits any change in posture from the U.S. and Iran,” June Goh, senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities, told Reuters.
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U.S. strikes killed seven service members in southeastern Iran, authorities say
Iran’s military said it would respond to the strike on the Bambour barracks near Iranshahr, calling the attack “a cowardly aggression.” A statement cited by Tasnim said a decisive response would come “at the appropriate time.”
The military said 13 U.S. missiles struck facilities in the Bambour barracks, killing seven members of Brigade 388 and wounding others. It added that passive defensive measures helped limit casualties.
The statement accused the U.S. strikes of aiming to cause as many casualties as possible, targeting a guesthouse, guard posts and accommodation areas at the base.
Death of Indian sailor missing after attack off Oman confirmed
The family of an Indian crew member who had been missing following an attack on the merchant vessel GFS Galaxy off Oman confirmed on Wednesday that he has died, Reuters reported. Of the 11 Indian seafarers aboard, 10 were rescued, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.
Former Iranian foreign minister urged ground attack on a U.S. base and taking hostages
Former Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki proposed a ground assault on a U.S. base in the Middle East and taking hostages to transport to Iran.
“My proposal is to carry out a ground attack on one of the U.S. bases in the region, capture 100 Americans and bring them to Iran,” Mottaki, now a member of parliament, said.
U.S. Secretary of State met with Jordan’s foreign minister to discuss Iranian attacks on shipping
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 for six months UN monitoring of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
The resolution passed with 13 votes in favor and abstentions from China and Russia, and calls for the UN secretary-general to submit monthly reports to the Council on the situation.
The Yemeni Houthi rebels began attacking vessels in the Red Sea in late 2023, saying they targeted ships linked to Israel in response to the Gaza conflict.
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Vessels linked to Iran transited the Strait of Hormuz ahead of U.S. blockade
Maritime data showed an increase on Tuesday in the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz ahead of a U.S. blockade set to take effect on Wednesday, with most of those ships linked to Iranian trade. Kpler records indicate nine of the eleven vessels that passed that day used the Iranian route.
Among ships entering the strait were three empty tankers: an Aframax tanker and two larger vessels. Departing traffic included a VLCC carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil, a medium tanker carrying refined products, and two vessels transporting liquefied petroleum gas.
Commercial traffic that day 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 fired from Iran
Jordan’s armed forces said their air defenses intercepted and downed three ballistic missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory. An official statement said Royal Engineering Corps teams handled missile debris at several locations, following technical and safety protocols, and secured affected areas to protect people 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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Iran’s Revolutionary Guard struck Gulf countries after CENTCOM operation
In the early hours of Wednesday, Iran’s military announced new drone strikes against U.S. military facilities in the Middle East amid the latest escalation with Washington. Tasnim, an outlet linked to the IRGC, said Al Azraq airbase in Jordan — where F-18s, accommodations and U.S. equipment were located — was struck by drones.
The IRGC described the operation, named “Lightning,” and said “the era of the slap in the face is over,” warning that any actions against Iran’s land, waters or airspace would not go unanswered and would carry proportional costs.
The IRGC also reported naval and aerospace strikes against a U.S. storage facility at Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain and against U.S. drones at Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait. Its statement said a coordinated missile-and-drone operation destroyed several weapons and spare-parts depots at Sheikh Isa and damaged or destroyed MQ-9 drone launch ramps at Ali Al Salem.
Iran: the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed “until U.S. harms end”
The IRGC said the strategic waterway would remain closed until U.S. actions ceased, in a statement released Tuesday. The military accused the U.S. of striking Iranian bases “under the pretext of attacking violator ships” to hide what it called U.S. failure and impotence.
The IRGC added that “no ship dared to violate [the Iranian blockade] or accompany the United States,” and therefore “there were naturally no impacts” during the operation.
White House: “Divisions in Iran show success of Trump 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, in comments made on Fox News.
Miller claimed Iran’s leadership now faces “huge fissures the size of cannons” after decades of unity, and reiterated that the U.S. is urging Iran to adopt a peace program and abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Pezeshkian vowed to defend “every inch” of Iran amid new escalation with the U.S.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country would defend “every inch” of its territory amid rising tensions with the United States, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had removed much of Iran’s military capability. “We will defend every inch of our homeland with our actions,” Pezeshkian said in a state television interview.
His remarks came amid increasing hostilities after U.S. strikes in southern Iran followed Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has responded with missile and drone launches against U.S. targets in the region.
“His rhetoric continues, but the question is: have they achieved their objectives on the battlefield?” Pezeshkian asked, referring to Trump’s statements and U.S. military actions.
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