Iranian forces launched new attacks against facilities used by the US military in the Middle East, while Washington conducted a seven-hour barrage of airstrikes against Iran. Tehran maintains that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until US military operations cease and is now threatening to block other critical energy export routes in the region.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Wednesday, July 15, that Iranian retaliatory operations would continue. "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States ceases its acts of aggression ," the Iranian military organization said in a statement broadcast on state television.
Tehran asserts its sovereignty over this maritime passage and refuses to allow Washington to control the routes used by commercial vessels. Before the start of the war, nearly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas trade passed daily through this strait located between Iran and Oman. The United States disputes the closure announced by Iran and continues to escort some ships along a southern route close to the Omani coast.
The Revolutionary Guards also threatened to close other maritime corridors serving the interests of the United States and its allies. “Regional energy exports will be accessible to everyone or no one ,” they warned. This threat could particularly affect the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, where the Houthi rebels in Yemen possess significant military capabilities.
A base used by the Americans was targeted in Jordan
The Iranian military claimed to have attacked the Azraq airbase in northern Jordan, which is used by US forces. The Revolutionary Guards said they targeted hangars housing military aircraft, after accusing Washington of using Jordanian territory to launch strikes against Iran.
The Jordanian military announced that three ballistic missiles fired from Iranian territory had entered its airspace. All three projectiles were intercepted and destroyed by Jordanian air defenses. No casualties were immediately reported, and Iranian claims regarding damage to the base have not been independently verified.
The US Fifth Fleet targeted in Bahrain
Tehran also claimed to have struck several installations belonging to the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The U.S. naval force is headquartered in this small Gulf kingdom, located a few hundred kilometers off the Iranian coast. According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the missiles targeted a command center, logistical infrastructure, military equipment depots, and fuel storage facilities. Bahraini authorities activated air raid sirens overnight. No complete casualty figures were available Wednesday morning, and the extent of the damage claimed by Iran remained unknown.
A site in Kuwait was hit, and drones were intercepted.
Iranian forces say they attacked a U.S. logistics support center in Mina Abdullah, Kuwait. They claim the facility was set on fire and destroyed. The official Kuwaiti news agency confirmed that a fire had been brought under control at a site hit during the attacks, without immediately determining whether it was the same facility. Kuwaiti air defenses also announced they had engaged several Iranian drones. Alerts were triggered overnight as missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles were reported to be heading toward various military sites in the country.
Seven hours of American bombing against Iran
The bombings primarily targeted Iranian regions near the Strait of Hormuz and several coastal areas. American fighter jets, drones, and warships targeted military installations, missile systems, drone launch sites, and coastal defenses. Several explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, Bushehr, and the Sistan-Baluchistan province. The Iranian Ministry of Health announced that more than 260 people were wounded during this latest night of strikes, without immediately releasing a death toll. This preliminary toll is significantly higher than those reported after previous waves of bombing. Iranian authorities have not yet provided a full assessment of the damage to military and civilian infrastructure.
Washington reinstates blockade of Iranian ports
The United States has reinstated its naval blockade of Iranian ports, which was suspended in mid-June following a provisional agreement with Tehran. American forces are tasked with preventing ships from entering or leaving the country's ports and inspecting vessels suspected of carrying cargo destined for Iran.
At least 19 U.S. warships are currently deployed in the Arabian Sea, including two aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault ship carrying more than 1,000 marines. Hundreds of other U.S. military aircraft are also present in the region. Washington says Iran has attacked seven merchant ships in the past week, resulting in the deaths, disappearances, or injuries of nearly a dozen sailors.
Donald Trump threatens Iranian power plants and bridges
Donald Trump announced that US operations would continue for the next few days. The US president threatened to strike power plants, bridges, and other infrastructure if Iran does not resume negotiations.
“It’s better to reach an agreement, otherwise you’ll have nothing left ,” Donald Trump declared. He also stated that he was reserving Iranian energy facilities for the next stage of bombing. At least one bridge has reportedly already been targeted by US forces.
The US president had initially considered imposing a 20% tax on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. He ultimately abandoned this proposal after discussions with several Gulf leaders, stating that he wanted to secure billions of dollars in new investments in the United States instead.
Tehran now threatens other energy routes
The Revolutionary Guards warned that Iran could block other routes used for oil and gas exports by Washington's allies. "The region's energy exports will be accessible to everyone or to no one ," the Iranian military organization stated.
This threat is specifically aimed at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the passage linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis in Yemen, allies of Iran, have already threatened to close access to it. Such a decision would affect Saudi oil exports and a significant portion of international maritime traffic.
The provisional agreement of June is now threatened
The agreement reached in June stipulated a 60-day period for negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and shipping conditions in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had agreed not to charge transit fees during this period. The talks are now stalled, and fighting has resumed with increasing intensity.
Tehran claims the right to control traffic in the Strait of Gibraltar and is considering charging tolls for certain passages. The United States, on the other hand, demands free navigation, without Iranian authorization or tolls. Regional mediators are still trying to bring the two countries back to the negotiating table, while the strikes are now affecting several countries hosting US forces.
Oil traffic under pressure
Normally, nearly a fifth of global oil and gas trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Its closure disrupts deliveries, slows the passage of tankers, and increases risks for crews.
Brent crude reached its highest level in over a month before falling back after the US ship tax proposal was abandoned. However, continued bombing, the reimposition of the blockade, and Iranian threats against other shipping lanes pose a lasting risk to global energy supplies.
