Welcome to the Guardian’s ongoing coverage of the escalating situation in the Middle East.
For the second night in a row, Iran faced a barrage of missile strikes, with the US military reporting that it has targeted 170 locations in Iran over the past 48 hours.
The US Central Command (Centcom) stated that the purpose of these extensive bombings is to “further diminish Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping and innocent sailors in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Reports from Iranian state media indicated explosions occurred in various cities, primarily in the southern regions of the nation, as Iran’s military executed retaliatory strikes against American bases located in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
The ongoing conflict, fueled by the struggle for control over this vital shipping route, poses a significant risk to the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
Both nations have expressed their intention to heighten their responses if provocations persist. President Donald Trump has cautioned that the situation could worsen, while Iranian officials have warned of a potential increase in hostilities directed at US installations in the area.
During a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump declared that the memorandum of understanding with Iran is “finished,” adding, “I have no desire to engage with them.”
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, asserted that the Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iranian control. He stated on social media, “The Strait of Hormuz will only be reopened based on Iranian arrangements, not through threats from the US.”
These recent military actions coincide with preparations in Iran for the burial of their late supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, in his native city of Mashhad. His passing prompted a multi-day funeral that drew millions of mourners from both Iran and Iraq.
Massive crowds have begun to gather in Mashhad, where Khamenei will be interred later today, following a week of solemn processions across multiple cities.
In a related diplomatic development, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the British ambassador in Tehran after the UK had previously called in the Iranian chargé d’affaires in London. This interaction occurred in light of the conviction of two Romanian individuals involved in the stabbing of an Iranian journalist.
The Iranian ministry expressed its disapproval through its director general for Western Europe, Alireza Yousefi, delivering a protest note against what he described as “groundless and false” claims made by British officials regarding security threats posed by Iran.
The UK had summoned Ali Nasimfar following the sentencing of George Stana and Nandito Badea to 12 and eight years in prison, respectively, for their involvement in the 2024 knife attack on Pouria Zeraati, an Iranian-British journalist critical of the Tehran regime.
The UK Foreign Office stated that the attack was determined to have been conducted “in the interests of, and on behalf of, the Iranian state.”
In response, the Iranian foreign ministry dismissed these allegations, accusing the UK of “making absurd and fabricated claims” to deflect attention from its own actions.
It further urged the UK to change its stance towards Iran and to cease its unwavering support for Israel, which it described as the greatest threat to global peace and security.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has accused the United States of breaching the truce that has kept most hostilities at bay for the past three weeks. He emphasized on social media that “America has yet to understand that bullying and failing to honor agreements come with consequences. If you strike, expect to be hit back.”
As of this morning, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait have experienced renewed assaults as Iran continues its retaliatory actions against US military facilities in the region.
Sirens were activated in Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, as well as in Kuwait and Qatar, where air defense systems intercepted incoming Iranian drones and missiles, with no immediate reports of damage.
The Iranian army announced that its strikes targeted a US Patriot missile system in Kuwait, an early warning satellite antenna in Qatar, and fuel supplies belonging to the US military in Bahrain.
According to the Iranian health ministry, the recent wave of US airstrikes has resulted in 14 fatalities and left 78 individuals injured.
Hossein Kermanpour, the head of public relations for Iran’s health ministry, confirmed on social media, “While a ceasefire was in effect, the US launched attacks on five Iranian provinces on July 7 and 8, leading to 14 deaths and 78 injuries. Of the injured, 47 remain hospitalized while others have been discharged after treatment.”
