Iran war live: US bombs Iranian port cities as IRGC closes Strait of Hormuz

Live updates,

Explosions heard in the port cities of Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chabahar, Bandar-e Deyr and Asaluyeh as US bombs Iran for a third time this week.

Published On 12 Jul 2026

• US Central Command announces a third round of strikes on Iran this week after accusing it of attacking a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iranian state media report explosions in the port cities of Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chabahar, Bandar-e Deyr and Asaluyeh.

13 Updates

• 5m ago

   (00:55 GMT)

  

  No casualties reported in Bushehr attacks

  Ehsan Jahanian, Bushehr province’s deputy governor for political, security and social affairs, says no casualties have been reported so far after attacks on several cities in the southern Iranian province.

  These include the cities of Bushehr, Asalouyeh and Bandar-e Deyr, he said.

• 10m ago

   (00:50 GMT)

  

  Military site hit in Iran’s Bushehr amid US attacks

  We have more on the continuing US attacks on Iran’s Bushehr province.

  According to the IRIB state broadcaster, at least 12 explosions have been heard in different parts of the province.

  These include five in the port city of Bandar-e Deyr, four in Asaluyeh and three in the city of Bushehr.

  Meanwhile, the Student News Network TV, an Iranian news agency, citing an IRIB reporter said military barracks in the Risheh neighbourhood of Bushehr was hit and that blasts were also reported in the city of Kangan.

  The reporter said a military post was also attacked in Bandar-e Deyr.

• 15m ago

   (00:45 GMT)

  

  More than 10 explosions reported in Jask

  The IRNA news agency says more than 10 explosions have been heard in the port city of Jask in the southern Hormozgan province.

• 19m ago

   (00:40 GMT)

  

  Iran ‘targeting’ ships taking US-guided route through Strait of Hormuz

  Ian Ralby, a senior fellow at the Center for Maritime Strategy, says the latest ship strike in the Strait of Hormuz offers a “bleak picture” for vessels weighing their options.

  “As of the last few weeks, we’ve had three different routes that have been used by ships to come out,” he told Al Jazeera.

  “One is the Iranian route approved by the Persian Gulf Strait Authority. That has become the favoured route. On the southern highway, as the president of the United States has described it, there were two routes for a little while, one approved by the International Maritime Organization and Oman, but that only lasted a few days until it had to be suspended following attacks.”

  Ralby said the third is a US-guided route that hugs the coast of Oman.

  “That seems to be where this vessel was coming through, which indicates that the guidance that the US is providing is specifically being targeted by the Iranians and pushed back against. And that is a problem for a lot of vessels to now have the choice, get attacked or go through Iran. If that’s the only options on he the table, it is a pretty bleak picture for many of them going forward,” he said.

• 25m ago

   (00:35 GMT)

  

  Iranian official says recent US strikes ‘will not go unanswered’

  We’ve been speaking to Ali Safari, an adviser to the spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman.

  He said the recent US strikes “will not go unanswered” and accused Washington of failing to implement its commitments under the MoU signed on June 16.

  Safari insisted that the MoU places responsibility for “future arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz” with Iran, to be worked out in consultation with Oman and other states.

  “The southern shipping route, created under US pressure, prevents implementation of the agreement and has created serious security risks, including the possibility of collisions. Sending ships through that route with navigation systems switched off is irresponsible,” he said.

  “The US must choose, honour what it signed 23 days ago, or walk away from its commitments. Iran is far stronger than you imagine and is prepared for war,” he added.

• 35m ago

   (00:25 GMT)

  

  Hegseth says Iran will ‘pay’ for ‘poor choice’

  US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has posted on X, saying: “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.”

• 40m ago

   (00:20 GMT)

  

  UKMTO issues warning after report of fire on board container ship

  The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says it has received a report of an incident some nine nautical miles east of the Omani coast.

  “Military authorities have reported that a container ship has sustained damage to the rear of the vessel which has caused a fire onboard,” it said.

  “Vessels are advised to transit with caution,” it added.

  The alert came moments after US Central Command announced the start of a third round of strikes on Iran citing an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged ship in the strait.

• 46m ago

   (00:14 GMT)

  

  Explosions heard in Iran’s Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chabahar

  Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster is reporting more explosions across southern Iran.

  It said three explosions each have been confirmed in the port cites of Bandar Abbas and Sirik. Two blasts were heard in the port city of Chabahar, while five were heard in the city of Bandar-e Deyr in Bushehr province.

  It added that four explosions were also heard in the city of Asaluyeh, which is also in Bushehr province.

  We’ll bring you more when we have it.

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• 50m ago

   (00:10 GMT)

  Iran sends twofold message on Hormuz: ‘Diplomacy and escalation both possible’

  Reporting from Tehran, Iran

  The IRGC is saying the Strait of Hormuz is now closed until further notice, and that no vessels will be allowed to pass through until what it describes as US intervention in the region comes to an end.

  This comes as the situation around the strait remains extremely fragile. In recent days, we have had repeated reports of the waterway being reopened, partially reopened, and then closed again.

  What Tehran is now talking about is a new arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz — one where it says control over shipping routes stays under Iranian authority, in coordination with Oman, but not under terms set by foreign powers.

  At the same time, Iran is sending two messages. On the diplomatic side, officials say talks and mediation are still under way, including efforts by Qatar and other countries, to try to resolve the crisis.

  But on the military side, they are also warning that escalation could still be on the horizon. Iranian officials have repeatedly said their “fingers are on the trigger” and promised what they call a crushing response to any further attack or violation.

  So this is not only about Hormuz. It is also about US intervention, Iran’s oil exports, sanctions, and whether diplomacy can still stop another round of confrontation.

  For now, Tehran appears to be saying it is open to diplomacy, but ready for escalation.

• 57m ago

   (00:03 GMT)

  

  US military announces third round of strikes on Iran

  US Central Command (CENTCOM) says it has started a third round of strikes on Iran after accusing IRGC of “blatantly” attacking a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

  It said the ship was unable to continue its journey due to an onboard fire and engine damage, and that a crew member is missing.

  “Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed,” it said, referring to the peace deal signed on June 16.

  “In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait,” it added.

• 58m ago

   (00:02 GMT)

  

  Several explosions reported in southern Iran

  Residents in Asaluyeh and Bandar Deyr in southern Iran have reported hearing several explosions, according to Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster.

• 59m ago

   (00:01 GMT)

  A recap of recent developments

  • Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declares the Strait of Hormuz temporarily closed after firing a warning shot at a ship attempting to transit through what it called an unapproved route.
  • Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei pledges to avenge the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, by US and Israeli forces, saying “revenge is the will of our nation”.
  • US President Donald Trump has threatened to “decimate and destroy all areas of Iran” if Iranians attempt to assassinate him.
  • Iran’s Foreign Miniser Abbas Araghchi meet his Omani counterpart, Badr al-Busaidi, with sources saying Muscat has proposed two separately controlled routes in the Strait of Hormuz, one through Iranian territorial waters and one through Omani waters.
  • Israeli forces continue attacks on southern Lebanon, wounding seven people in the town of Al Mansouri in the district of Tyre, as another round of direct talks with Israel is scheduled to take place in Rome.
  • Israeli forces kill one Palestinian and wound several others in the Gaza Strip in a drone attack on the Wadi Gaza bridge, which separates the northern and southern parts of the Strip.

• 1h ago

   (00:00 GMT)

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