Blasts reported in Iran as US launches new wave of strikes
BBC News 2026-07-16 21:44:37
Context: The US has launched a sixth consecutive night of strikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities in the region, as the two countries continue to clash over control of the Strait of Hormuz. The renewed hostilities have strained a preliminary deal to end the war, with Iran's state media reporting US missiles striking close to the Gulf island of Qeshm and other locations. The escalating attacks have left the critical waterway off Iran's coast effectively blocked.
Key Facts
- The US launched a new wave of strikes against Iran for a sixth night in a row, with US Central Command stating that the attacks aimed to "further degrade Iranian military capabilities".
- US missiles struck close to the Gulf island of Qeshm, near the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr, the site of a nuclear power plant, according to Iran's state media.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump remained open to talks with Iran, but would hold them accountable for their actions, particularly regarding attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that Tehran had "no reason" to abide by any agreement that did not benefit the country, and that Iran's national security depended on maintaining control in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran's judiciary denied reports that a US prisoner, Dena Karari, had been released or exchanged, despite Trump claiming that Iran had freed her as a "gesture of goodwill".