The US Army announced on Sunday a new wave of strikes against Iran.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that the strikes came to "continue undermining Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz."

At 5 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching more strikes against Iran to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian… — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 12, 2026

It added that US President Donald Trump ordered these strikes "to hold Iranian forces accountable."

Furthermore, the US Army stated that "Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces (had) opened fire on commercial ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz," according to CNN. It added that "US aircraft successfully shot down an Iranian cruise missile and a drone."

Explosions in Iran

In response, Iranian state TV reported hearing explosions near Sirik, west of Bandar Abbas, as well as Qeshm and Jask.

Iran's Mehr news agency reported initial reports of hearing explosion sounds in parts of Bushehr province.

Explosions also occurred in Shahbandar in Hormozgan province, Abadan, Mahshahr south of Ahvaz, Chabahar and Minab, and southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan, according to Iranian media.

Also, US bombing targeted the fourth air base in Dezful north of Ahvaz, while electricity was cut off across Ahvaz, according to media.

Meanwhile, one person was killed and four were injured in a US raid on a water pumping station in the city of Mahshahr, as reported by Iranian media.

"Diplomatic efforts thwarted"

Iran strongly condemned the latest US strikes on its territory, accusing Washington of "thwarting" all diplomatic efforts made over the past months to reduce tensions in the region, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

Tehran also accused the United States of "blatantly violating" all terms of the memorandum of understanding signed in June, and "causing the return of insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and disruption of international commercial navigation," according to the statement.

Exchange of attacks

This came after Washington and Tehran exchanged missile and drone attacks earlier on Sunday, during which Iran targeted US facilities in several Gulf countries and again announced the closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters.

Map showing the Strait of Hormuz (Illustration from Reuters)

In response, US Central Command confirmed that "the Strait of Hormuz is open to all vessels seeking to legally transit this international waterway."

CENTCOM also added that "US forces are positioned and ready to ensure continued freedom of navigation, despite unjustified Iranian practices characterized by aggression, harassment, threats and arbitrary announcements," stressing that "Iran does not control the strait, and navigation is proceeding normally."

These developments cast doubt on the future of the interim US-Iran agreement signed by the two countries last month, which aimed to reopen the strait and end the war after additional negotiations over 60 days.

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