US and Iran Resume Fighting After Diplomacy Fails

Military conflict between the United States and Iran resumed on July 28, 2026, after Iran launched missiles at U.S. forces in the Middle East. Although the U.S. intercepted all missiles, the United States and Saudi Arabia responded by attacking Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. This escalation follows a period of military limbo and a 60-day interim deal intended to negotiate a resolution to a war that began on February 28 with joint U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian naval and missile arsenals.

Diplomatic efforts remain deadlocked. Donald Trump claimed that Iran is "desperately" seeking meetings to end the conflict, while Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei dismissed these reports as "fabricated." Baqaei stated that Iran is not engaged in direct talks with Washington and is only conducting bilateral discussions with Oman regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran shut down in February. The U.S. continues to demand concessions on Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile development, while Iran seeks international recognition of its control over the strategic waterway.

Concurrent with the renewed fighting, President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. Netanyahu shared intelligence on Tehran's nuclear program and sought to maintain U.S. support as domestic approval for the conflict slips. Trump indicated a desire for a swift end to the war to lower gas prices by reopening the Strait of Hormuz, though he noted that if diplomacy fails, the U.S. will return to its previous military posture.