US, Iran exchange blows in Persian Gulf; Hormuz Strait closed again

The United States and Iran are locked in a cycle of escalating missile and drone attacks, with Tehran announcing on July 12 that it has once again closed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. This latest round of conflict saw Iran launch attacks against U.S. facilities within Persian Gulf nations, affecting Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, countries that had previously been spared since April and early May, respectively.

The Iranian attacks are seen as an attempt to bolster its control over the Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant escalation in speed and scope compared to earlier exchanges. U.S. Central Command confirmed on social media that the U.S. military began a new wave of strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on July 12 (5 a.m. Taiwan time on July 13) "to continue degrading Iran's ability to attack civilian vessels and commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz freely."

President Donald Trump, in a brief phone interview with Reuters on the afternoon of July 12, commented on the U.S. military's airstrikes over the weekend, stating, "We are beating them badly." Iranian media reported explosions and missile attacks in the vicinity of Bandar Abbas, a port city along the Strait of Hormuz, and the nearby Qeshm Island on July 12. Bandar Abbas hosts several Iranian military installations.

This renewed violence has cast further doubt on the prospects of a temporary agreement signed between the U.S. and Iran last month, which aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the conflict within a 60-day negotiation period. Trump had repeatedly stated in the past week that a ceasefire had ended but left room for further negotiations. Iran announced late on July 11 that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a vessel sailing on an unauthorized route, and on July 12, it stated it had disabled a second vessel.

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We are beating them badly.

The newly established "Persian Gulf Strait Authority" in Iran declared on July 12 that passage through the Strait of Hormuz is currently impossible due to "recent illegal military actions by the U.S. military in the region." They stated that transit permits would be reissued once "stability and calm are restored." The U.S., in response, stated that following the revocation of Iran's crude oil sales permit on July 7, U.S. forces are in place to maintain freedom of navigation and criticized Iran's "aggressive, harassing, threatening, and arbitrary announcement measures." The U.S. asserted, "Iran does not control this strait, and shipping continues."

Iranian state media reported explosions in multiple port cities within the country, and one Iranian army officer was killed. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for destroying a command center and drone hangar in Jordan, attacking a U.S. military radar station and rocket launch system in Kuwait, conducting airstrikes on U.S. military logistics facilities in Oman, and destroying a fighter jet maintenance center and command facilities in Qatar. Qatar emphasized its prior stance that it would not serve as a mediator if attacked again. This attack resulted in three injuries, including one child, from falling shrapnel, and Qatari authorities stated that Iran must "bear full legal responsibility" for the attack. The UAE confirmed detecting missile threats, Bahrain reported intercepting multiple Iranian aerial attacks, Jordan reported missile strikes, Oman stated it was attacked by drones, and Kuwait's military later reported damage to facilities from an attack, including a hit on an oil drilling platform that injured one worker.

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf posted on X on July 12, stating, "The era of unilateral agreements is over. We have told you long ago, keep your promises, or pay the price. Reality is knocking on the door."

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The era of unilateral agreements is over. We have told you long ago, keep your promises, or pay the price. Reality is knocking on the door.