US and Iran trade fresh strikes amid Strait of Hormuz tensions

Washington/Dubai/Tehran (Web Desk): The Gulf has once again become the centre of conflict as a fresh exchange of attacks between the United States (US) and Iran triggered a serious military confrontation since the two sides signed an interim deal in June.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday that it had launched attacks on dozens of US military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait, describing the operation as retaliation for recent US military action.

In a statement aired by state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC said its Navy and Aerospace Force had jointly carried out missile and drone strikes against 85 major US military sites in the two Gulf countries. The statement also claimed Iranian forces had brought down an American MQ-9 drone during the operation.

Ahead of the retaliatory strikes, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters declared that the country’s armed forces would deliver a “crushing response” to the “blatant act of aggression”, while warning that Tehran would not tolerate any US interference in the administration of the Strait of Hormuz.

The escalation followed a fresh round of the US strikes carried out on Tuesday after three oil tankers were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, further straining the already delicate ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

US Central Command (Centcom) announced that it had struck more than 80 targets in an operation intended to impose what it described as “heavy costs” on Iran. It claimed that the offensive also destroyed more than 60 small boats belonging to the IRGC in an effort to reduce Iran’s capability to launch attacks against commercial shipping.

U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway. The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 7, 2026

Iranian media reported multiple explosions early Wednesday on Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, as well as on Qeshm Island and in the southern port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas.

Although no civilian deaths were reported, Iranian state television said several people were injured by shrapnel after an “enemy projectile” struck a commercial pier in Sirik.

Media reports also said fishing piers in both Sirik and Bandar Abbas came under attack, with several fishing boats catching fire during the strikes.

Iran’s Press TV reported that several explosions were heard on Kharg Island in southern Iran but did not provide further information regarding the cause, the extent of the damage or any casualties.

Several people injured following US airstrikes on Iranian targets in country's south. pic.twitter.com/3Wmp75Wtnw

— Press TV Breaking (@PTVBreaking1) July 7, 2026

Centcom’s statement made no reference to Kharg Island, which handles around 90 per cent of Iran’s crude oil exports. The island was previously targeted by the United States in April.

In another move likely to strain the agreement further, Washington revoked the key sanctions waiver that had enabled Iran to continue exporting crude oil and petroleum products.

Following the announcement, global oil prices climbed by more than 3pc.

Under the interim US-Iran agreement, the US Treasury issued a June 22 general licence to allow the sale of crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian origin through August 21.
After revoking the licence on Tuesday, Washington instructed Iran to conclude all related transactions by July 17.

Separately, Kuwait strongly condemned the Iranian strikes carried out on its territory, saying they weakened ongoing efforts aimed at easing tensions across the region.

In an official statement, Kuwait’s foreign ministry said it expresses its “strongest condemnation and denunciation of the repeated, illicit Iranian attacks,” adding that “the continuation of these brazen attacks — at a time when regional and international efforts toward de-escalation are underway — systematically undermines efforts to lower tensions”.

Iran’s foreign ministry denounced Washington’s decision to withdraw the licence, describing it as a violation of the framework agreement designed to end the conflict and warning that the United States would be responsible for the consequences.

The ministry said early on Wednesday that Iran would take any measure it deemed necessary to safeguard its interests and national security.

Qatar accused Iran of targeting commercial vessels, including the giant Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker Al Rekayyat, which reportedly caught fire in its engine room after being struck by a drone overnight. All crew members were reported safe and were being evacuated.

A Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker believed to be the supertanker Wedyan also sustained damage off the coast of Oman, according to maritime security sources, although the exact cause had yet to be confirmed.

Qatar’s foreign ministry said it had summoned Iran’s deputy ambassador and handed him a protest note following the attack on the tanker.

Iran’s foreign ministry described Qatar’s allegations as perplexing, insisting that Tehran was fully honouring its commitments while arguing that commercial vessels using routes not coordinated with Iran faced greater risks.

As per the reports, Iran is seeking to establish a permanent system for collecting transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would significantly reshape the regional balance of power in an area where the US has traditionally served as the principal security guarantor.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had travelled to Iraq to attend the funeral ceremonies of Ayatollah Khamenei, returned home following the US strikes on southern Iran, according to state television.

The ceasefire agreement had been intended to create a 60-day opportunity for negotiations on a lasting settlement, but indirect talks held in Qatar last week ended without any visible progress.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened that military action could resume if diplomacy fails.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, he said: “We’re either going to make a deal or we’re going to finish the job We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply.”

Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that under the terms of the interim ceasefire memorandum, negotiations on the final deal would “not commence if threats continue”.

Millions of proud Iranians rallied in unity to honor Grand Ayatollah Khamenei and his legacy. Neither them nor our Brave Armed Forces are moved by any threats.

Para 13 of the MoU is clear: Negotiations on final Deal will not commence if threats continue Honor your signature. pic.twitter.com/uQ7OoFyp8U

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 7, 2026