Trump Orders Nine Days of Strikes as Iran Blockades Strait

The United States and Iran have entered a full-scale military conflict following the collapse of the June 17 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Donald Trump authorized nine consecutive nights of airstrikes against Iranian air defenses, missile facilities, and civilian infrastructure, including nuclear power plants, desalination plants, and the city of Tabriz. The U.S. campaign aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear missiles and to secure commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran retaliated by blockading the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting 20% of global oil and LNG supplies and pushing Brent crude prices past $90 a barrel. Iranian forces launched ballistic missile and drone strikes against U.S. bases in Jordan, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, as well as air navigation systems in Bahrain. These attacks killed 17 U.S. service members, including two at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Casualties in Iran are reported to exceed 3,500 people.

Diplomatic efforts have stalled after Iran withdrew from the June MoU on July 19, alleging U.S. violations. While Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei dismissed the U.S. president's commitments as worthless, President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated that diplomatic exchanges via mediators, including Pakistan, are continuing. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have announced a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia, further destabilizing the region.