Iran and US trade strikes, shattering brief lull in fighting

The United States imposed new sanctions on Wednesday targeting entities linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), accusing them of extorting ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. These measures were introduced alongside heightened tensions following a missile attack on U.S. bases in Jordan, which marked a resumption of hostilities between the two nations after a temporary ceasefire. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the sanctioned entities operate a scheme backed by the IRGC that compels commercial vessels to buy mandatory maritime insurance to navigate the strait. This system, the department claimed, creates artificial risks, such as threats of vessel seizure, and then charges ships for protection against dangers generated by the Iranian regime itself. The renewed conflict erupted after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in the Middle East, according to the U.S. Central Command (Centcom). The attack took place on Tuesday at 17:45 EDT (21:45 GMT), though all projectiles were successfully intercepted. In response, both the United States and Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Centcom stated that the strikes targeted "multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites" in eastern Iraq, describing the action as a firm reaction to more than 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks within the previous three days. The U.S. military emphasized that Iran and its proxies must halt their attacks to prevent further escalation. Saudi Arabia confirmed it had intercepted and destroyed drones aimed at its oil infrastructure in the east. A defense ministry spokesperson, Major General Turki al-Maliki, attributed the attacks to Iran-affiliated groups operating from Iraqi soil. The renewed violence followed a brief pause in hostilities that had allowed diplomatic discussions to resume. However, the U.S. and Iran have not officially engaged in negotiations, despite recent statements from President Donald Trump suggesting otherwise. Access to and control of the Strait of Hormuz continues to be a central issue in any potential dialogue, although Iran has denied that such talks are taking place. In a press briefing in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected the notion that Iran seeks negotiations with the United States, stating that such efforts are "not in our DNA." He described the ongoing conflict as a consequence of repeated "war crimes" committed by the U.S., which he claimed were attempts to deflect blame for the damage caused by American policies influenced by Israel. Baghaei also mentioned that Iran and Oman had held discussions regarding the Strait of Hormuz on Friday and Saturday, but clarified that the status of the waterway remained unchanged, it remains closed to international traffic. These talks, he noted, were unrelated to the United States. The Iranian official also addressed the recent detention of two French diplomats by Iran’s security services. Baghaei criticized France for interfering in Iran’s internal affairs under false pretenses, stating that the diplomats had acted "under the pretext of engaging with civil society." The diplomats were detained and questioned for several hours on 19 July before being released to return to their embassy. The incident highlighted growing concerns among Western countries about Iran’s approach to foreign nationals and its broader diplomatic relations. The escalating tensions have placed additional pressure on regional stability, particularly given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes. With both the U.S. and Iran intensifying their military postures, the likelihood of further confrontations appears high. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington shortly before the latest attacks, meeting with Trump at the White House and attending the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a known critic of Iran. His presence underscored the complex web of alliances and rivalries shaping the current geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.