Watch video of US launching new air strikes on Iran
Just weeks after the U.S. and Iran struck a temporary agreement to ease tensions, the two countries appear to be heading back toward open conflict.
The United States launched a new rounds of military strikes against Iran in recent days, targeting sites tied to Tehran's military capabilities and its ability to threaten commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire effectively over and announced the U.S. was reinstating a naval blockade after Iran renewed attacks in the region.
U.S. Central Command said the latest operation began at 5 p.m. ET on July 12 and was aimed at weakening Iran's ability to target civilian and commercial ships moving through the strategic waterway, one of the world's most important routes for oil shipments.
A day later, Trump told Fox News the U.S. was taking control of the strait.
"We're taking over the strait. They've got nothing," Trump said, adding that other Middle Eastern countries would reimburse the United States for helping secure the shipping lane.
Video shows Iran strikes
CENTCOM said U.S. forces used one-way attack drones to strike a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran on July 12. Iranian state media reported attacks on military sites in the country's south and southwest.
Trump defended the operation, saying Iran had violated a previous agreement and left the U.S. with little choice but to respond.
"We had a deal. It was a done deal, and then they broke it," Trump told Fox News. "We're just going to hit them very hard."
Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, fired back in a post on X.
"The era of one-sided deals is OVER," he wrote. "We told you: keep your word or pay the price."
USA TODAY's Joey Garrison and Thao Nguyen; Reuters contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch video of US launching new air strikes on Iran
Reporting by Fernando Cervantes Jr., 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 4:06 PM.