US launches new strikes on Iran as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
The United States launched a new round of military strikes against Iran after Tehran targeted U.S. facilities across the Persian Gulf and declared it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz, marking another escalation in the diplomatic breakdown between the two countries.
U.S. Central Command said it began striking Iran at 5 p.m. ET on July 12 "to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz." President Donald Trump "directed the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable," Central Command added.
The latest exchanges intensified a struggle over control of the strait, a vital energy corridor that carried one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the war. Iran said it had once again shut the waterway; U.S. officials insisted the strait remained open.
In a brief interview with Reuters, Trump the weekend attacks were "beating them up," days after indicating he considered the ceasefire over.
The renewed fighting cast doubt on an interim U.S.-Iran agreement signed last month that was intended to reopen the strait and provide a framework for ending the war through an additional 60 days of negotiations. The latest exchanges have instead heightened fears of a wider regional conflict and further disruptions to global markets.
Gulf nations caught in the middle
Iran expanded its military operations beyond earlier targets, launching strikes that reached Qatar and prompting air defense responses in the United Arab Emirates.
Qatar, which has played a central role in mediation between Washington and Tehran, said three people, including a child, were injured by shrapnel. The Persian Gulf nation accused Iran of being "fully legally responsible" for the attack and noted the strike could further complicate diplomatic efforts.
Officials across the region reported additional incidents. Bahrain said it intercepted several aerial attacks, Jordan reported missile strikes, and Oman said it was targeted by drones. Kuwait later reported damage from strikes and said one worker was injured after an attack on an oil drilling platform.
Oman also summoned Iran's ambassador to protest drone attacks in two regions of the country. The U.S. Embassy in Oman advised Americans in the area to shelter in place as security conditions deteriorated.
In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned what it called "aggressive" U.S. military actions and said talks July 11 between Iranian and Omani officials were unable to get results because of "overt and covert" U.S. pressure on Oman.
U.S. military officials said July 11 that its forces struck 140 Iranian military targets and that more than 300 had been attacked over three nights in the past week.
Oil prices climb as fears of disruption grow
The escalating confrontation sent oil prices higher and threatened energy shipments in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose more than 3% late July 12, and U.S. crude also gained roughly 3%.
Trump said July 12 that the strait is open to commercial traffic, though Iran declared earlier that it had closed the waterway after a vessel traveled on an unapproved route and was struck.
Six vessels have transited the strait in July, the lowest number in five weeks, Reuters reported, citing ship-tracking data from Kpler.
Contributing: Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US launches new strikes on Iran as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
Reporting by Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM.