Iran attacks US bases and ships as Trump meets Netanyahu

Iran launched a "surprise attack" with ballistic missiles against US forces and struck three oil tankers, shattering a brief pause in fighting intended for diplomacy. The attack, which the US military says it fully intercepted, coincided with President Trump's meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu. The escalation jeopardizes talks to resolve disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and a collapsed June ceasefire agreement.

Diplomatic negotiations resumption

• ▪US President Donald Trump stated on July 27, 2026, that "very friendly negotiations" were underway with Iran following a pause in fighting.
• ▪President Trump has threatened to attack Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site and other infrastructure if diplomatic negotiations fail.
• ▪Iran has publicly denied holding direct negotiations with the United States, stating that intermediaries may be conveying messages.
• ▪Oman is reportedly leading mediation efforts between the US and Iran, with involvement from Qatar, Pakistan, and Egypt.

Strait of Hormuz control dispute

• ▪Iran insists on maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, requiring that any passage be coordinated with its authorities and routed near its coastline.
• ▪Control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil supplies are shipped, is a central issue in US-Iran talks.
• ▪Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the administration of the Strait of Hormuz will "never return to the way that it was before the war".

June MoU implementation breakdown

• ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government opposed the June 2026 MoU and has favored continued military operations against Iran.
• ▪The US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June 2026, which extended an April ceasefire and established a framework for negotiations.
• ▪The June 2026 MoU broke down due to disputes over its implementation, particularly after Oman announced a new US-backed shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz.

Escalating military strikes

• ▪On July 29, 2026, Iran's IRGC claimed it struck three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, alleging they ignored warnings.
• ▪On July 28, 2026, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched multiple ballistic missiles in an attack on US forces in the Middle East.
• ▪The US and Saudi Arabia conducted joint strikes on "terrorist logistics and weapons sites" in eastern Iraq following dozens of drone attacks.
• ▪According to Pentagon data, at least 624 US military service members have been wounded since the conflict with Iran began in February 2026.
• ▪Ukraine struck an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, which Iran's foreign minister said "cannot go unanswered."
• ▪The Iranian missile attack on July 28, 2026, coincided with a White House meeting between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• ▪US Central Command (Centcom) announced that all ballistic missiles launched by Iran on July 28, 2026, were successfully intercepted.
• ▪The United States and Israel launched a joint war against Iran on February 28, 2026.

Frozen Iranian assets leverage

• ▪The US and Iran have different interpretations of the June 2026 MoU's commitment to release frozen Iranian assets.
• ▪Regaining access to frozen assets is a main priority for Iran in any potential agreement with the United States.

8 sources