On Saturday, July 11, 2026, United States military forces carried out the third series of air strikes this week against Iran. The action was in retaliation for an incident involving a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, according to information from the Pentagon. In response, Iran launched counterattacks targeting American allies in the Gulf region.
Despite escalating tensions and armed clashes with the US, an Iranian delegation traveled to Oman early on Saturday. The aim was to continue diplomatic discussions through mediators, even after the dramatic exchange of fire that compromised the ceasefire previously agreed to in mid-June, a memorandum signed by President Trump and his Iranian counterpart. On Sunday, both countries traded accusations over the free movement of maritime traffic in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, which is vital to the global oil trade and a point of constant geopolitical tension.
Earlier Friday, President Donald Trump had issued a stern warning, threatening to “decimate and destroy” Iran if there were any assassination attempts against it. He also mentioned that “1,000 missiles are ready to be fired at the Islamic Republic of Iran” under this condition. On Saturday, in an official statement, Iran’s supreme leader promised revenge for his father’s death, adding yet another component to the growing animosity between the nations.
Tehran targets neighboring Gulf countries in response to US offensives
The Tehran regime has intensified its own attacks against neighboring Gulf nations such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Oman. This increase in offensives came after the United States targeted targets in Iran on Saturday. Oman, for example, is the nation on the other side of the strait that Tehran has been pushing to integrate into maritime traffic management, which adds a layer of complexity to the regional situation.
Late on Sunday afternoon, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that, according to the governor of the island of Qeshm, close to the strait, less than a dozen projectiles were fired at military targets in the region, with no casualties reported. There were no immediate demonstrations by the American armed forces about what happened. The island of Qeshm, the largest in the Persian Gulf, is home to approximately 150,000 people.
The IRNA agency also reported that explosions were heard in the coastal city of Bandar Abbas, as well as in Hajiabad, an inland location located further north in the country.
The recent exchanges of accusations and attacks come at a critical time, with Iran and the United States halfway through a 60-day interim agreement. This pact’s main objective was to achieve a permanent end to the conflict, but tension continues to grow in a worrying way, indicating difficulties in the search for a lasting resolution.
