Iran war: US carries out fresh strikes near Strait of Hormuz; Tehran attacks Bahrain, Jordan in retaliation
The US military said it is carrying out strikes in Iran on Sunday night.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes are to "continue degrading" Iran's ability to attack commercial ships going through the Strait of Hormuz.
At 5 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching more strikes against Iran to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 12, 2026
The strikes were directed by US President Donald Trump, CENTCOM said on its official X account.
Explosions were heard in several locations in Iran's southwest, including in the key city of Bandar Abbas and the Bushehr region, Iranian media reported.
Iran: Diplomatic efforts 'futile' after US strikes
Iran reacted to the latest round of US strikes on its territory by saying they have "rendered futile" the diplomatic efforts of the past few months.
According to a foreign ministry statement cited by the AFP news agency, the US military strikes "has caused the return of insecurity to the Strait of Hormuz and disruption of international commercial shipping."
Tehran also blamed Washington for "openly" interfering in the process of "Iran implementing the necessary arrangements" in the Strait.
Iran foreign ministry issues sharp retort to UN Secretary-General's statement
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei on Sunday called on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to urge all parties involved in the Iran war to stop allowing the United States to use their territories as what he called "launchpads for aggression against Iran".
Guterres had earlier released a statement expressing his concern over "the serious escalation and renewed military confrontations in the Gulf," including the Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the attacks by the US on Iran, and the attacks by Iran on targets in the neighboring nations.
I am deeply concerned by the serious escalation & renewed military confrontations in the Gulf, including the Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the attacks by the US on Iran, and the attacks by Iran on targets in the neighboring countries.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 12, 2026
These attacks must all…
Baqaei responded to the statement claiming that the escalation was not a military confrontation.
"It is the continuation of a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression initiated on 28 February by the United States and Israel," he said on X.
The spokesman continued to say that Tehran does not "attack."
"Iran's strikes on US military bases and assets stationed in the southern Persian Gulf constitute a legitimate and lawful exercise of its inherent right to self-defense under international law," he said.
He also attempted to correct Guterres, insisting on the use of the term "Persian Gulf."
"BTW, it is 'Persian Gulf'; please be loyal to the UN directives (notably on 18 August 1994, and 14 May 1999) mandating the use of the full term "Persian Gulf" in all UN texts," Baqaei remarked.
Baqaei said that it was "far from responsible" to blame Tehran for "defending its sovereignty while failing to hold the aggressors accountable for their egregious violation of international law."
Mr. Spokesperson,
— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) July 12, 2026
This is not a “military confrontation.” It is the continuation of a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression initiated on 28 February by the United States and Israel.
Iran does not “attack.” Iran’s strikes on U.S. military bases and assets stationed in the… pic.twitter.com/KQVkc2DbZL
One killed in strike on Iran water pumping station — state media
One person died and four others were injured in a US strike on a water pumping station in Iranian city of Mahshahr in the southwest, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported early Monday.
"Following the attack of the American enemy on Monday morning... one person was martyred and four others were injured," IRNA cited Valiollah Hayati, Khuzestan province's deputy governor for security and law enforcement, as saying.
There was no immediate statement from the United States on the reported attack.
Bahrain sounds air raid sirens
Air raid sirens rang through Bahrain on Monday morning, the island nation's interior ministry said, ordering ordered residents to seek shelter as Iran targets US interests in the Gulf in response to latest US strikes.
"The siren has been sounded... citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the Ministry of Interior posted on X.
The siren has been sounded ..Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.
— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) July 13, 2026
Iran says it hit Jordan's Prince ?Hassan Air Base air base
In a statement, Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had launched a new series of strikes across the Middle East.
The IRGC said it fired missiles and drones at the Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, setting fuel tanks and ammunition depots on fire.
The IRGC described the strikes as the first phase of its response to US attacks on Iranian coastal bases.
US military completes latest round of strikes on Iran
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that it has concluded a new wave of strikes against Iran, hitting dozens of targets at multiple locations with precision munitions.
The US forces hit Iranian air defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone equipment and small boats, according to a statement released by CENTCOM on Monday.
It said that the US used fighter aircraft, naval vessels, one-way attack aerial drones, and one-way attack sea drones for the first time during the latest strikes.
The US military insisted that Tehran "does not control" the Strait of Hormuz.
"The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Iran does not control it," CENTCOM said.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 13, 2026
The statement also said that the US military was "postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping" despite what it alleged was Tehran's "continued unwarranted aggression, harassment, threats and arbitrary declarations."
