US and Iran exchange missile strikes as five-month conflict continues

The United States and Iran have exchanged heavy missile strikes, ending a brief pause in their five-month conflict. The fighting has escalated regionally, with strikes hitting Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged by over 50%. Despite ongoing mediation efforts by Pakistan and diplomatic talks involving Saudi Arabia, global energy markets remain severely disrupted, and President Donald Trump's domestic approval rating on the conflict has declined.

US-Iran missile exchange

• ▪The United States and Iran exchanged missile barrages on July 30, 2026, ending a brief pause in their five-month conflict.
• ▪An Iranian strike on Qeshm island killed three people and wounded two others on July 30, 2026.
• ▪U.S. Central Command struck dozens of Iranian Revolutionary Guard targets, including command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal defense sites.

Regional escalation strikes

• ▪An Iranian missile strike on a Chinese firm's building in northern Kuwait on July 30, 2026, killed one worker.
• ▪A joint U.S. and Saudi strike on July 29, 2026, killed at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers in Iraq.
• ▪Drone strikes on July 29, 2026, ignited fires on two natural gas vessels at the Egyptian port of Damietta.
• ▪Jordanian air defenses intercepted five Iranian missiles on July 30, 2026, marking the second consecutive day of interceptions.

Strait of Hormuz closure

• ▪The Strait of Hormuz, which handles 20% of global oil and natural gas shipments in peacetime, has experienced nearly halted energy shipments.
• ▪Weekly shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell from 82 ships on July 13-19 to 39 on July 20-26, 2026.

Global energy disruption

• ▪Saudi Arabia bypassed the Strait of Hormuz by transporting oil to Ain Sokhna and pumping it overland to the Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir.
• ▪Saudi Arabia accused Iraqi militias of launching drone attacks against Saudi oil facilities, while Houthi rebels declared a shipping blockade.

Diplomatic mediation efforts

• ▪Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated that negotiations are ongoing to normalize the security situation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.
• ▪Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met with Donald Trump and JD Vance on July 29, 2026, to advocate for de-escalation.

Trump approval rating decline

• ▪President Donald Trump initially stated the conflict with Iran would last four to five weeks, but the war has persisted for five months.
• ▪An AP-NORC poll indicates that President Donald Trump's approval rating regarding the Iran conflict has declined slightly since June 2026.

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