Iran Threatens US After Retaliatory Strikes Over Jordan Base Attack

The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified on July 18, 2026, as Mojtaba Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader, vowed that the U.S. and its allies would face unforgettable lessons. Khamenei labeled the U.S. the Great Satan and declared President Donald Trump's signature on a memorandum of understanding regarding the Strait of Hormuz to be worthless and invalid.

The escalation follows a Friday drone and missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed two service members and injured four others, bringing the total U.S. military death toll in the conflict to 16. In response, the U.S. military launched airstrikes targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to degrade Iran's ability to restrict oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Hostilities have surged since June 25, when an Iranian drone attacked a cargo ship, leading to the collapse of a month-old preliminary peace deal. Reports indicate Iranian operations have also affected Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The U.S. State Department issued a Worldwide Caution travel alert, warning that Iran-supported groups may target U.S. citizens globally. While Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paid tribute to the fallen troops in Jordan, President Donald Trump has previously expressed openness to wiping out the IRGC.