The United States carried out a 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets on Thursday, as US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the operation and disclosed that its forces had redirected 12 commercial vessels and disabled one since reimposing a naval blockade nine days ago. The strikes, which began at 18:45 Eastern Time, aim to “hold Iran accountable and diminish threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to commercial shipping,” CENTCOM stated. The campaign has expanded geographically, with reports of explosions across southern and western Iran, including near Bushehr and the strategic Strait of Hormuz islands of Qeshm and Larak, underscoring the broadening scope of the US military effort.

From Washington, President Donald Trump signalled no readiness for a new ceasefire, saying the Iranian leadership “need more of the same” and reiterating that Iran will not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the cost to Iran “will rise every night until it comes to its senses,” claiming that Tehran’s defence industrial base has been gutted and its economy is in “disaster.” US officials say the operations respond to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and are designed to degrade the IRGC’s ability to threaten maritime traffic. The Pentagon has more than 50,000 service members deployed across the Middle East in support of the campaign.

Iranian state media and Revolutionary Guards-affiliated outlets reported missile interceptions and casualties from US strikes, including two dead at the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq. Tehran has responded by expanding its own attacks: officials in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait reported drone and missile strikes against military and infrastructure targets, including an assault on Kuwait’s Al‑Abdali border crossing and hits on water desalination facilities. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, describing it as part of a naval blockade against Riyadh. Iran’s joint military command threatened to prevent oil exports from the region if its civilian facilities are targeted, and the IRGC asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under its control.

The intensifying conflict has pushed oil prices back toward 100 dollars a barrel, with reduced tanker throughput through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil consumption normally transits. The US naval blockade, originally imposed earlier in 2026 and briefly lifted under a June memorandum of understanding, was reinstated around July 14 after the collapse of ceasefire arrangements. Analysts in Europe note that the simultaneous air and maritime campaigns are designed to isolate Iran economically and militarily, but the retaliation against Gulf partners demonstrates Tehran’s capacity to widen the theatre. Israeli municipalities including Ramat Gan, Carmiel and Eilat opened public shelters on Thursday, citing an increased risk of Iranian missile fire over the weekend, though civil defence guidelines remained unchanged.

Diplomatic channels remain active but deadlocked: Rubio acknowledged that Iranian officials “beg” for a deal daily through third countries, but he argued that past agreements were repeatedly violated by Tehran. The next steps are likely an extension of the current campaign; US officials indicate strikes will continue until the IRGC’s threat to shipping is diminished, while Iranian statements suggest no capitulation. The region remains on edge as both sides test the limits of escalation, with no formal negotiation date set.