U.S. and Iran Resume War After Peace Deal Collapses

The United States and Iran returned to full-scale war in July 2026 after the collapse of a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding intended to end hostilities. The escalation peaked between July 15 and 19, with Donald Trump authorizing eight consecutive nights of airstrikes targeting Iranian surveillance sites, military logistics, and critical infrastructure. U.S. Central Command targeted bridges in Hormozgan province and a planned nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, while strikes near a children's cancer hospital in Ahvaz forced the evacuation of 211 patients.

Iran retaliated with coordinated missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, targeting U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. An attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan killed two U.S. service members, bringing total American fatalities in the conflict to 16. Iran also struck civilian infrastructure in Kuwait, including an oil facility and a desalination plant. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps further escalated by intercepting ships in the Strait of Hormuz and claiming to destroy radar sites in Oman.

Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains the primary flashpoint. The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and disabled the oil tanker Belma, while Iran effectively closed the waterway to commercial shipping. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei declared the peace agreement worthless and warned of unforgettable lessons. Iranian officials report at least 50 deaths and over 500 injuries from U.S. operations, while the U.S. maintains its campaign is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.