The US Department of Defense has confirmed that around 100 American soldiers were injured over the past two weeks in attacks linked to escalating tensions with Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for strikes on US military installations, air defense systems, and a radar site in Bahrain and Kuwait. On the same day, an oil tanker was damaged by an unidentified missile in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing its crew to evacuate. Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan reported activating their defense systems to repel attacks.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said most of the injured soldiers suffered mild concussions, with 96 percent already back on duty. He denied allegations that the Pentagon concealed casualty information. Meanwhile, three US soldiers were killed in Jordan and Iraq during the past week. Despite ten consecutive nights of US airstrikes, Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz remains strong, affecting global oil transport routes.

The ongoing conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up global oil prices, with Brent crude trading above $88 per barrel and US gasoline averaging $4 per gallon.

Iran has intensified attacks on military and civilian infrastructure in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan in response to continued US air and missile strikes. Analysts told Al Jazeera that Tehran’s strategy aims to pressure US President Donald Trump without directly targeting American naval fleets or Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly struck airports, power plants, and water treatment facilities after US attacks severely damaged Iran’s railways, power grids, telecommunications, and water systems.

Lebanese analyst Elias Hanna explained that Iran avoided US naval targets due to their advanced air defenses and the risk of severe retaliation. Tehran University’s Atife Taghiani argued that Iran has the legal right to strike territories used for attacks against it, while Kuwait University’s Abdullah Al-Shayji dismissed this as propaganda, asserting that US strikes originated from warships stationed offshore. Al-Shayji criticized Iran for endangering civilians by targeting essential infrastructure.

The conflict began after joint US-Israeli strikes in late February, followed by a failed ceasefire agreement in June. Experts believe Iran’s current actions reflect both fear of direct confrontation and an attempt to manage domestic discontent.

Two oil tankers caught fire after explosions while traveling through the narrow and risky southern route of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the incident and said its rescue teams were evacuating sailors from the damaged vessels.

According to a statement published by Iran’s state news agency IRIB, the IRGC urged shipping companies to ensure the safety of their crews and to ignore what it called false information from the U.S. military. The force also reiterated warnings to avoid routes declared dangerous.

The IRGC further stated that as long as U.S. actions in the region continue, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed, and no oil, gas, or fertilizer exports will be allowed from the area.

The United States carried out airstrikes in Iran for the tenth consecutive night, targeting areas including Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Chabahar, and Konarak. Explosions were reported across these regions. In response, Iran launched counterattacks on US military bases in the Middle East. The escalation followed US President Donald Trump’s warning that Iran would pay a heavy price for the deaths of three American soldiers, two in Jordan and one in Iraq.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the country is now engaged in a full-scale war with the United States, confirming retaliatory strikes on targets in Bahrain, Jordan, and Syria. The US Central Command said its operations aimed to reduce Iran’s ability to attack commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, focusing on command centers, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim agency reported that several cities, including Tabriz and Bandar Imam Khomeini, were hit. Regional militaries in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain confirmed intercepting Iranian drones and missiles. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, raising fears of further disruption to global energy supplies.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that its ground forces are at the highest level of readiness, equipped with modern military hardware, continuous training, and advanced operational capabilities. The force asserted that it is fully prepared to counter any possible U.S. incursion into Iranian territory.

According to a statement quoted by the Tasnim news agency, the IRGC emphasized that the armed forces’ constant vigilance and uninterrupted preparedness ensure the country’s lasting security. Brigadier General Ruhollah Nouri, deputy commander of the IRGC ground forces, stated that Iranian troops are capable of neutralizing any enemy infiltration attempt within moments.

The report noted that there was no immediate response from the United States regarding the IRGC’s claims.

Iran announced that it has received messages from the United States through mediators amid ongoing regional conflict and heightened tensions. The confirmation came from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei during a press conference in Tehran, where he stated that diplomatic exchanges between the two countries are continuing. Without revealing details, he said Iran had received several proposals and ideas through specific intermediaries, reflecting active diplomatic engagement in recent days.

Baghaei directly blamed the United States for the recent escalation of tensions, emphasizing that Iran holds no hostility toward neighboring countries but expects them not to allow their territories to be used for attacks against Iran. He warned that as long as such hostile actions continue, Iran’s armed forces will continue to respond appropriately.

The statements highlight Iran’s stance amid ongoing regional instability and suggest that indirect diplomatic communication channels between Tehran and Washington remain open despite the conflict.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that Tehran is prepared to welcome any US ground forces attempting an incursion. He made the remarks on Monday during a press conference in Tehran, warning that the United States would face severe consequences for any attempt to seize Iran’s southern Kharg Island.

Baghaei emphasized that Iran’s leadership is ready to confront any ground operation by US troops. He also condemned recent US attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical and health facilities, calling them unjustifiable under any political or military pretext.

According to the spokesperson, Iran views such actions as violations of international norms and reiterated its stance against civilian suffering caused by military aggression.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei strongly condemned US attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical and health facilities, during a press conference on Monday. He stated that no political or military justification could legitimize the suffering of civilians or the destruction of essential infrastructure.

Baghaei specifically referred to a February 28 strike on a primary school in the southern city of Minab, describing it as a deliberate and heinous act. He emphasized that Iran is a unified nation, asserting that harm to one region affects the entire country. Using vivid metaphors, he said that damage to provinces like Hormozgan or Chabahar would resonate across Iran, symbolizing national solidarity in the face of external aggression.

The remarks, reported by the Mehr news agency, reflect Tehran’s firm stance against US military actions targeting non-military sites and its portrayal of such attacks as violations of humanitarian principles.

A United States airstrike in the southwestern area of Tabriz city in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province killed one person and injured several others early Monday, according to Majid Farshi, director general of the province’s crisis management department, as reported by the state news agency IRNA. The attack targeted a military zone in northwestern Iran, prompting immediate response from rescue, security, and law enforcement agencies to manage the situation and assess the extent of the damage.

This was the first strike in Tabriz since renewed tensions began about ten days ago, with earlier attacks concentrated in Iran’s southern regions. In recent days, the United States has intensified its operations against Iran, while Tehran has retaliated by targeting American military facilities and bases in various regional countries.

The escalation marks a continuation of mutual hostilities between the two nations, raising concerns about further instability across the Middle East if the cycle of attacks persists.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that only Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei holds the authority to make a final decision on whether Iran will continue its military confrontation with the United States or return to ceasefire talks. The statement came amid ongoing U.S. air raids on Iranian military and civilian sites for nine consecutive nights, with Iran responding by attacking American bases across the Middle East.

In an interview with Tehran Times, Araghchi confirmed that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council met on Saturday night to review the situation and decided to suspend the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a peace deal signed on June 17 under Pakistan’s mediation. The conflict, which began on February 28 over Iran’s nuclear program, had previously paused with an April 7 ceasefire before reigniting after Iran’s July 5 drone attack on UAE tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The renewed hostilities have led to U.S. President Donald Trump reimposing port blockades on Iran, while Tehran has yet to formally declare war, awaiting Khamenei’s decision.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that no oil or gas will be transported through the Strait of Hormuz if the United States continues what it calls aggression in the region. The IRGC declared that as long as US actions persist, the strait will not remain safe for navigation or energy shipments.

According to the IRGC, two oil tankers were disabled after explosions while attempting to pass through the southern route of the strait, which it described as unsafe. The group alleged that the US military had encouraged those vessels to use that route. However, the IRGC statement did not disclose the tankers’ names, flags, crew identities, or any information about casualties. Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the claims.

The IRGC also warned that US forces should be prepared for what it called punitive operations, signaling heightened tension in the strategic waterway.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran is not Venezuela and will never fear US threats. He made the remarks in an interview with a Turkish media outlet, emphasizing that Israel’s short-term attacks failed to weaken Iran as intended. Araghchi alleged that Israeli strikes were made possible due to internal information leaks and security vulnerabilities that have not yet been fully resolved.

He further claimed that individuals linked to Israel’s intelligence agency were aware of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s daily presence at his office. Araghchi revealed that Iran had prearranged a plan to close the Strait of Hormuz if an attack targeted the Supreme Leader. He also said that Iran’s initial ceasefire with the United States was approved by the country’s Supreme National Security Council.

According to Araghchi, Iran joined diplomatic talks to test the effectiveness of negotiations, and extensive discussions were held on whether to resume them in the future.

Iran experienced another earthquake on July 20, 2026, when a magnitude 5.2 tremor struck near the Kuzaran area in the western Kermanshah province. According to the Iranian Seismological Center at Tehran University, the quake occurred at 7:13 a.m. local time (03:43 GMT). Its epicenter was located about 17 kilometers from Kuzaran and 65 kilometers from the provincial capital, Kermanshah, at a depth of 8 kilometers. No casualties or damage have been reported so far.

Earlier, on Sunday, another earthquake measuring magnitude 5 hit the Saland area of Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. Al Jazeera reported that the quake’s epicenter was in Saland, with a depth of about 12 kilometers below the surface, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society cited by state broadcaster IRIB.

The recent tremors highlight ongoing seismic activity across multiple regions of Iran, though authorities have not yet reported any significant losses or disruptions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran will end its ongoing war with the United States only after securing a 'strategic military advantage.' In an interview with the state news agency IRNA, Araghchi emphasized that the key to crisis management lies in determining the right moment to stop fighting and begin negotiations. He explained that wars end either through decisive military victory or through talks, and that negotiations become appropriate only when reliable and strategic success has been achieved on the battlefield.

Araghchi added that no risks should be taken with the lives of citizens or the nation’s future, stressing that all decisions must be based on careful and comprehensive calculations. He noted that Iran’s leadership must constantly weigh whether continuing the war will bring more benefits or increase humanitarian and national losses. Despite some damage, he claimed that Iran has emerged as an influential power internationally and demonstrated the strength of its state system.

The interview was reported by Al Jazeera and published by IRNA on July 20, 2026.

According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by Amar Desh Online, Iran exported crude oil worth about $6 billion to China within 20 days after the United States temporarily lifted its export sanctions. The sanctions were lifted on June 17, 2026, following an agreement signed in Islamabad, but were reimposed on July 7 amid renewed tensions. During this brief window, Iran shipped nearly 70 million barrels of crude oil to China using around 20 tankers routed through Malaysia’s eastern coast.

The report stated that Iran took full advantage of the short sanction-free period to boost its oil exports. China remains Iran’s largest oil buyer, purchasing about 90 percent of its total exports. Even during previous sanction periods, Iranian tankers reportedly transferred oil to Chinese vessels in the Eastern Outer Port Limits area of the South China Sea.

After sanctions were reinstated on July 7, the United States also imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, preventing Iranian ships from leaving and foreign vessels from entering.