The United States military has carried out airstrikes on Iran for the thirteenth consecutive night, with Iranian state media reporting four deaths and five injuries from the latest wave of attacks. Explosions were heard at key military and commercial locations in southern Iran, including the port city of Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, according to Iranian outlets.
Centcom Confirms Targets
US Central Command (Centcom) stated that the strikes targeted "Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities." The campaign is described as an effort to reduce Iran's capacity to threaten civilian shipping in the region, as reported by the BBC.
Trump Threatens to Seize Iranian Assets
President Donald Trump escalated rhetoric by declaring that damages to ships and cargo would be "paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls." He described the measure as "fair and equitable" and warned the total bill could be "very substantial."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the threat, stating: "Those who celebrate or profit from such funds should remember: once governments normalize confiscation, no one's assets are safe." He added, "Ensuing chaos will not be pretty or peaceful."
The threat contradicts Point 11 of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Washington and Tehran in June, which committed the US to making "fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Oil Prices Surge, Hormuz Shipping Drops
Crude oil prices crossed $100 a barrel, the highest level since May, as fears over shipping disruptions intensified. Reuters reported, citing ship-tracking data, that only one tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, July 24, the lowest single-day transit figure recorded since May 7.
Concerns heightened after Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi movement claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, adding a second flashpoint. Air raid sirens were also sounded in Bahrain, according to that country's Interior Ministry, while Iranian state media said alarms were activated in Jordan.
Ceasefire Collapse Preceded Current Fighting
The current hostilities follow the breakdown of a ceasefire agreed in June. Under that deal, both sides committed to halting military operations and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with a 60-day window to reach a broader peace agreement. Trump declared the ceasefire "over" roughly three weeks after it was signed, citing Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait and responding with US strikes.
17 American Soldiers Killed in US-Iran War
Legit.ng earlier reported that the United States military confirmed the death of another service member in northern Iraq, bringing the total number of American soldiers killed in the ongoing conflict with Iran to 17. US Central Command announced on July 19 that the soldier died on July 18 "during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone."
