Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported on July 18 that two oil tankers exploded after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint for global oil shipments. The Guards accused U.S. intelligence agencies of deception that led the tankers into the minefield, but did not specify the vessels involved. Additionally, the Guards stated they prevented four other ships from transiting the waterway.
The announcement comes amid an intensifying conflict between Iran and the United States, with both sides exchanging drone and missile strikes for the seventh consecutive night. U.S. Central Command said its forces carried out strikes aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities, targeting facilities along Iran’s southern coast and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran accused U.S. forces of hitting civilian infrastructure, including an airport, a railway station, and two bridges. In response, Iranian forces reportedly launched attacks on U.S. assets throughout the region. Major General Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, warned that Tehran could escalate to full-scale offensive operations if U.S. attacks persist for several more days. “Iran will no longer limit itself to retaliatory, like-for-like responses… and no political border will be safe,” he stated.
The conflict escalated significantly after deadly strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces on February 28, which prompted Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz temporarily and carry out retaliatory attacks across the Gulf, including strikes involving Israel and American interests.
Majid Mousavi, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards aerospace force, said targeted strikes would continue “until the U.S. ends operations against Iran’s coastal facilities.” Meanwhile, the energy ministry of Iran urged the public to reduce power consumption amid high temperatures and strain on the electrical grid, which officials attributed to damage from U.S. attacks on energy infrastructure.
On July 18, Iranian media reported multiple missile strikes targeting U.S. radar sites in Oman and the Al-Tanf military base in Syria. A Syrian military source denied the Al-Tanf base was attacked, and U.S. officials noted that forces had withdrawn from the site earlier this year. Jordan’s military reported shooting down three Iranian missiles, while Bahrain’s government urged civilians to take shelter amid reported attacks on U.S. helicopters and planes stationed at a Bahraini airbase.
The Iranian health ministry confirmed at least 38 fatalities and over 400 injuries in the country since hostilities resumed, highlighting the growing humanitarian toll amid the wider regional conflict.
Observers note the broadening scope of the conflict, involving strategic infrastructure across multiple countries. Some analysts caution that despite the sharp escalation, neither Iran nor the U.S. appears willing to accept a military compromise, raising concerns about further destabilization in the region.