U.S. and Iran exchange escalating strikes across the Middle East, threatening the fragile ceasefire

The fragile Middle East ceasefire has collapsed after the U.S. and Iran traded their heaviest military strikes since the April truce. Following Iranian attacks on three commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. struck 90 targets across Iran, killing at least 14 people. Tehran retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. bases and allies in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan. President Donald Trump declared the interim deal over and revoked oil sanctions waivers, even as regional mediators scramble to salvage peace talks.

U.S.-Iran military strikes exchange

• ▪Iran retaliated against U.S. airstrikes by launching missiles and drones targeting U.S. military bases and allied nations including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan.
• ▪The two days of U.S. airstrikes killed at least 14 people and wounded 78 others in Iran, according to the Iranian Health Ministry.
• ▪The United States military launched a wave of airstrikes hitting approximately 90 targets across Iran on July 8, 2026.

Strait of Hormuz shipping attacks

• ▪Iran launched attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on July 7, 2026, including the Marshallese-flagged al Rekayyat, the Saudi-flagged Wedyan, and the Liberian-flagged Cyprus Prosperity.
• ▪The status of the Strait of Hormuz has become a major sticking point, with Iran asserting its authority to charge transit fees and dictate shipping routes.

Ceasefire agreement collapse

• ▪The U.S. Treasury revoked a temporary sanctions waiver that had allowed Tehran to export oil, removing a key benefit of the June 14, 2026 memorandum of understanding.
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump declared on July 8, 2026, that the fragile interim ceasefire agreement with Iran was over following the attacks on commercial shipping.

Ayatollah Khamenei funeral processions

• ▪The final funeral procession and burial for the assassinated Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took place in his hometown of Mashhad on July 9, 2026.
• ▪U.S. airstrikes targeted infrastructure on the route to Mashhad, including a railway bridge in Golestan province, which Iranian officials denounced as a war crime.

Regional missile defense responses

• ▪Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani stated that Jordan intercepted all incoming fire from Iran, which included eight missiles.
• ▪Kuwait's military intercepted three ballistic missiles, a cruise missile, and 10 drones, with falling debris wounding one person.

Ceasefire negotiation prospects

• ▪Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone consultations with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Oman, and Pakistan's army chief to manage regional tensions.
• ▪President Donald Trump stated he would allow negotiations to continue but expressed skepticism about whether Iranian leaders would honor any final agreement.

6 sources