On 12th July (Sunday), US forces launched fresh assault on Iranian targets as the two sides continue to clash over the Strait of Hormuz. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) conveyed that it targeted “dozens of targets at multiple locations with precision munitions to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking international shipping” passing through the critical passage.
“CENTCOM forces struck Iranian military air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats using U.S. fighter aircraft, naval vessels, one-way attack aerial drones, and one-way attack sea drones for the first time,” the post read. It stated that global trade depends on the “vital maritime corridor” and rejected Iranian jurisdiction over the waterway.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 13, 2026
“U.S. forces are postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping despite Iran’s continued unwarranted aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations,” CENTCOM warned. “The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable,” it earlier informed that the recent onslaught was ordered by President Donald Trump.
He expressed, “We’re beating them up,” following the weekend operation. Tehran announced to have once more blocked the strait and attacked US infrastructure in several Gulf states on Sunday including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Oman. Iranian drones and missiles were also intercepted by the air defence systems of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“In response to the continued criminal American aggression against areas in the south of the country, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s army, hours ago, targeted the Patriot system, ammunition depot, and radar site of the terrorist American army in Kuwait with its destructive drones,” Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asserted.
“The consequences of such movements and insecurity in the region will be borne by the American-Zionist enemy, and if these attacks are repeated, we will respond more severely,” it further conveyed.
According to CENTCOM, some vessels continue to traverse through the strait. The US military also supports ships travelling over a southern route that hugs Oman’s shore due to which Iran’s grip on the strait has weakened. The Islamic Republic has been incensed by this channel and has often attacked ships that use it.
The US military already disclosed that it took down around 140 targets, including drone and missile launch facilities, ammo depots, communication equipment and other sites. This was a much stronger set of attacks than in the two prior waves of hits over the past week. The figure stood at 170 after two rounds of action on 7th and 8th July. “We bombed the hell out of them last night,” Trump stated during NBC’s Meet the Press.
According to Iranian media, there have been explosions and missile attacks in the vicinity of Qeshm Island and the port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas, which are home to military installations on the strait. Speaker of the Parliament of Iran and a top negotiator in the ongoing discussions between the two sides, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf took to social media and threatened, “The era of one-sided deals is over. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.”
The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking. pic.twitter.com/B97ogCYGaj
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) July 12, 2026
“These barbaric attacks are not only a gross violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter but also a serious threat to international peace and security,” Iranian foreign ministry mentioned in a statement, remarking it “rendered futile all efforts of the past few months to reduce tension and establish peace in the West Asian region.”
Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation travelled to Oman earlier Saturday to continue talks through mediators. However, the latest violence placed further doubt on the future of an interim US-Iranian peace pact agreed last month which intended to reopen the strait and terminate the conflict after 60 days of negotiations. Notably, Trump already highlighted that the ceasefire with the Islamic regime was over and referred to them as “sick people,” “scum” and “cuckoo.”
He even declared that “1000 missiles are locked and loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran” in the event that the regime attempted to kill him as he threatened to “decimate and destroy” the nation. Israel has a shared intelligence with the United States, unveiling an Iranian plot to target Trump.
On the other hand, Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei also promised retribution for his father Ali Khamenei’s assassination. He was killed on 28th February by Israel with the help of US intelligence which led to the outbreak of the war in the region and disrupted the global energy supply chain.
Multiple attempts have been made to secure a peace agreement through mediating countries such as Qatar. However, these efforts have consistently failed even after managing to establish a few days of respite from the confrontations.
