Smoke rises following a strike at an unknown location during what the U.S. military says is its latest wave of attacks on Iran in this image taken from video released on July 16, 2026. U.S. Central Command/Handout via Reuters
The U.S. military launched a wave of strikes against Iran for the seventh night in a row on July 17, as both sides traded blows, with Iran targeting U.S. bases across several Middle Eastern nations.
U.S. Central Command said the latest round of strikes concluded at around 9:30 p.m. ET, targeting Iranian surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities.
The U.S. military also deployed more fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships to the region as the United States seeks to hold Iran accountable for attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian army said two oil tankers exploded and caught fire while attempting to pass through a mined route in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the state-run IRNA News Agency. The U.S. military later posted a statement on X dismissing the Iranian claim as false.
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U.S. forces also disabled one ship and boarded another to ensure they fully complied with the blockade, according to the command.
“I’ll save the energy targets for last,” the president said. “Next week, it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges.”
When asked how long the military actions against Iran would last, Trump said: “They’ll continue until I say it’s enough.”
The president has said that any deal reached with Iran must guarantee that Tehran cannot develop nuclear weapons.
