Seven people were killed and nine others injured in a United States airstrike on the Bandar-e Khamir bridge in Iran’s Hormozgan province, according to a report by Iran’s state news agency Fars News on Friday. Rescue operations were continuing in the affected area, and emergency teams were providing medical treatment to the injured. The United States has not acknowledged any civilian casualties, and details about the victims or the cause of the strike have not yet been released.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) separately claimed responsibility for another strike targeting Iran’s military command center, air defense systems, drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities in the port city of Bandar Abbas. CENTCOM stated that the operation was carried out under the direction of US President Donald Trump.

According to the CENTCOM statement, the strikes were intended to weaken Iran’s military capacity, particularly its ability to attack civilian and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Sina Azodi, an assistant professor of Middle East politics at George Washington University, both Iran and the United States are strategically trying to make the other side concede first in the ongoing conflict. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Azodi explained that each side’s goal is interconnected, as both are escalating tensions to pressure the other into backing down and accepting their respective demands.

Azodi stated that Washington’s objective is to bring Iran back to the negotiation table and compel Tehran to accept US conditions. In contrast, Iran insists that the United States must first lift its naval blockade and fully implement the memorandum of understanding previously agreed upon between the two countries.

He added that both sides are also seeking to demonstrate that they are not retreating from their positions but rather hardening them, aiming to force the opponent to make concessions in the end.

London-based defense analyst Alex Alfiraj Shears told Al Jazeera that Iran’s main strategic objective in its ongoing conflict with the United States is survival. He said Iran has demonstrated readiness to absorb significant losses and will not withdraw from retaliatory actions, as Tehran views the confrontation as a fight for its existence.

Shears explained that Iran’s second goal is reconstruction, while its third is to shift the regional balance of power in its favor. To achieve these aims, Iran must show it can maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as its most powerful bargaining tool. In contrast, Shears noted that the United States’ strategic objectives remain unclear.

He added that the large U.S. military presence in the Gulf continues to pose a serious threat to Iran. Shears also observed that for a leader like Trump, who presents himself as a skilled negotiator, it would be difficult to convince supporters before the midterm elections that the U.S. has won the war and that the conflict was not in vain.

US forces have launched airstrikes on Iran’s southern port cities, including Bandar Abbas, and the islands of Qeshm, Kish, and Abu Musa, according to Al Jazeera. The attacks have reignited questions about whether Washington intends to occupy Iranian territory, a concern that first surfaced at the onset of the US-Israel versus Iran war. Earlier reports suggested the Pentagon had considered seizing Kharg Island, a key route for Iran’s crude exports, though talks had stalled after a June memorandum of understanding.

In a recent Fox News interview, US President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of occupying Iranian islands. Analysts told Al Jazeera that the United States has the military capacity to seize small islands but warned of high costs and risks. Experts Andreas Krieg and Nader Hashemi noted that holding territory would be far more difficult than capturing it, with potential for heavy casualties and political fallout.

Analysts added that any such operation would provoke Iranian retaliation, disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and threaten global energy security, potentially drawing Washington into a prolonged regional conflict.

Iranian Army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia stated on July 16, 2026, that Tehran has no intention of engaging in conflict with its neighboring countries. His remarks came after a military official warned that Iran could destroy regional infrastructure if the United States attacked Iranian civilian facilities. Akraminia emphasized that Iran prioritizes cooperation and friendly relations with regional and Muslim nations.

In his statement, Akraminia said the Iranian armed forces consider protecting the nation’s security, interests, and dignity as their foremost duty and will make every effort to fulfill it. He also urged countries outside the region to maintain relations with Iran based on mutual respect, asserting that Iran’s military is fully prepared to defend national security and interests.

The comments, reported by Al Jazeera, come amid heightened regional tensions following recent U.S. actions against Iranian targets, underscoring Tehran’s attempt to project both restraint and readiness.

Former Iranian foreign minister and senior adviser to the Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, declared that no global power can strip Tehran of its ownership over the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to state television, he stated that the strait is part of Iran and credited Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership for securing control during a 40-day war, calling it a valuable achievement.

The statement came as the United States launched new attacks on Iran, claiming the operations aim to prevent Tehran from posing threats to ships navigating through the strait. Earlier, Iran had targeted several oil tankers using alternative routes to the vital waterway.

In retaliation, Iran has attacked multiple U.S. military bases across the Gulf region, including installations in Bahrain and Kuwait, escalating tensions between the two nations.

Iran has carried out fresh attacks targeting US military installations in three Middle Eastern countries—Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan—as part of what it described as the tenth phase of its retaliatory operations. According to a statement from Iran’s military, the strikes focused on radar and defense systems at the Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait, including Patriot missile defenses and fuel tanks.

In Bahrain, Iran claimed to have launched drone strikes on the Sheikh Isa base, hitting radar and communication systems used by US forces. The statement also said that a separate drone attack targeted US installations at Jordan’s Azraq airbase, striking communication systems, a radar site, and a fuel depot.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not mention any casualties or responses from the United States or the affected host nations.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Tehran to 'behave politely' just hours before the United States launched new attacks on Iran. The U.S. military said the strikes targeted Iranian coastal defense and missile facilities on Greater Tunb Island, claiming Iran had used its military capabilities to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks followed Iranian strikes on U.S. bases in Bahrain and Kuwait, which Washington described as provocations.

Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told state media that Tehran saw no reason to uphold agreements that brought it no benefit. Trump earlier warned that if Iran did not return to talks within a week, U.S. forces could strike Iranian bridges and power plants. At a defense conference, he said Iran was desperate for a solution, while Ghalibaf insisted that maintaining Iranian dominance in the Strait of Hormuz was vital to national security.

The United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk condemned Trump’s earlier threats against civilian infrastructure as potential war crimes. The renewed U.S. blockade and Iranian warnings to close oil and gas routes have disrupted tanker traffic and driven up global oil prices.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that its primary goal is to destroy US military installations and offensive capabilities across the Middle East. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi stated on social media platform X that the United States should not assume the current situation will continue unchanged. He added that Iran’s next phase of operations would begin after targeting US military infrastructure in the region.

The announcement comes amid reports of new explosions in several Iranian cities. The United States has claimed that its recent strikes targeted Iran’s military capabilities that could threaten ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The ongoing exchanges indicate that both countries are attacking each other’s positions, with Iran focusing on US bases in the Middle East and the US conducting strikes inside Iran.

The situation underscores escalating hostilities between Tehran and Washington, with both sides framing their actions as defensive responses to the other’s aggression.

Iran has claimed that its air defense forces shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the city of Andimeshk in Khuzestan province. According to Iranian state media, the drone was destroyed by the country’s air defense system operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC stated that the drone had entered Iranian airspace without authorization and was precisely targeted by its aerospace forces.

The IRGC described the incident as a demonstration of its new domestically developed air defense technology. The statement emphasized that the system used to destroy the drone was a newly added, advanced defense platform within Iran’s air fleet. The report cited Al Jazeera as its source but did not include any comment from the United States or independent verification of the claim.

The announcement highlights Iran’s continued focus on strengthening its air defense capabilities and signals ongoing tension in the region involving US military assets.

Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States accepts Tehran’s stated conditions. Early Thursday, Iranian military spokesperson Mohammad Akrami-Nia said the strategic waterway would not reopen until it comes under Iran’s authority. He emphasized that Washington must comply with the structural agreement reached in June, halt hostile actions against Iran, and adhere to Iranian regulations for using the strait.

Akrami-Nia added that ongoing US military operations would not force Iran to reopen the route. Following the US Central Command’s announcement of additional strikes in Iran, explosions were reported in several Iranian cities. CENTCOM stated that the attacks targeted Iranian military capabilities that could threaten ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The developments come amid escalating tensions between the two countries. Despite a memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan for a lasting resolution, US forces carried out strikes in Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran on American bases across the Middle East.

The United States carried out multiple airstrikes overnight across Tehran and surrounding areas, according to Iranian state media reports on Thursday morning. Following the attacks, Iran activated its air defense systems in several parts of the capital. The state broadcaster IRIB reported that Semnan Airport was also targeted, though no residential areas in Semnan province were hit.

Semi-official news agency Tasnim stated that air defense systems were engaged in both eastern and western Tehran. Explosions were reported near Parchin and Pakdasht, southeast of the capital. The governor of Pakdasht confirmed the activation of local air defenses and said explosions were heard in the area.

The strikes occurred amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. Despite a framework for de-escalation and lasting peace reportedly mediated by Pakistan, both nations have continued to exchange attacks.

Iran carried out major attacks on US military bases located in Kuwait and Jordan, according to reports on July 16, 2026. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for a combined missile and drone strike on the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, while Iran’s regular army said it conducted a drone attack on the Azraq Air Base in Jordan. Iranian state media reported that the IRGC targeted a C-RAM radar system and a US troop assembly area as part of its 'Nasr 2' operation.

The IRGC accused the United States of using Kuwaiti territory to launch attacks against Iran and urged the Kuwaiti public to demand the withdrawal of US forces. Meanwhile, Iran’s army stated that its strike in Jordan was part of the ninth phase of its 'Sayeke' operation, targeting US communication systems, a radar site, and a fuel depot. The army said the action was in response to recent attacks inside Iran, including one in Iranshahr’s Bampur barracks that killed seven Iranian soldiers.

The coordinated strikes mark an escalation in Iran’s ongoing military campaign following domestic attacks that Tehran attributes to foreign involvement.

Iran has indicated it may move to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the key southern gateway to the Red Sea, following its earlier show of control over the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts told Reuters that Tehran could use its Yemeni ally, the Houthis, to execute this plan, potentially opening a new front against Washington and threatening two of the world’s most vital energy transport routes. The warning comes as US strikes inside Iran intensify and Houthi attacks increase.

According to Iran’s Press TV, a senior Houthi political figure warned that both Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb could be shut if the situation worsens, which could drive oil prices to $200 per barrel. Analysts said Iran’s strategy aims to expand the conflict’s scope to pressure Washington and disrupt global trade and energy flows. The Bab al-Mandeb route is crucial for Saudi oil exports and international shipping.

Experts noted that while a full-scale war may not be imminent, the risk of gradual escalation is growing. Regional researchers said Gulf states fear diplomatic options with Iran are nearly exhausted, and any expansion of conflict could impose heavy costs across the Middle East.

An Iranian court has extended the prison term of British citizen Craig Foreman by two years, bringing his total sentence to 12 years. According to his son, Joe Bennett, the additional sentence was imposed because Foreman spoke to the media while in custody. Foreman had originally been sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges.

Craig Foreman and his wife, Lindsay Foreman, were detained in early 2025 during a motorcycle trip through Iran as part of a world tour. In February, both were sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of espionage, which they denied. The couple began an indefinite hunger strike in May to protest their imprisonment.

As of the latest report, Craig Foreman has been on hunger strike for 68 days, while Lindsay Foreman has refused food for 59 days. The information was reported by Al Jazeera and cited by the outlet Amar Desh.