The United States launched a second day of strikes against Iran on July 8-9, 2026, after President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire memorandum of understanding "over" at the NATO summit in Ankara [1][4][25]. US Central Command confirmed the strikes aimed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz [3][10][14]. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on US military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait [7][12][18], as Brent crude climbed to near $80 a barrel [5][10] and the IMF downgraded its global growth forecast [45].
Trump framed the strikes as "retribution for yesterday's bombing of ships by Iran" and warned that "if it happens again, it will get much worse" [1][6][7]. US Central Command stated the strikes were directed by the commander-in-chief and held Iran responsible for recent unprovoked aggression against commercial ships [3][8]. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the American strikes as "absolutely necessary" at the Ankara summit [25]. US officials said the second wave of strikes would be larger than the first [2][6][10], and Trump warned the US might reimpose a naval blockade on Iran [20].
Iranian officials condemned the strikes as violations of international law. Iran's mission to the UN accused the US of a "blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and its international obligations" [7][16]. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani formally notified the Security Council, calling the attacks a violation of the UN Charter and the Pakistan-mediated memorandum [16]. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the US had challenged provisions of the agreement through unilateral actions and military attacks [4][7]. China's UN representative Fu Cong had earlier called a US-Israeli operation against Iran illegitimate [38], and the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged both sides to implement the signed memorandum and resolve disputes through dialogue [39].
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced joint missile and drone attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, naming targets including Arifjan and Juffair [12][18][35]. The IRGC warned that further US strikes would trigger attacks on additional regional bases [7][18]. Parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that "if you strike, you will be struck back" and vowed the Strait of Hormuz would reopen only under Iranian arrangements [6][7][13]. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi characterized Trump's threats as "an admission of the failure" of US policy [27][29]. A spokesperson for parliament's National Security Commission said options for retaliation included withdrawing from the NPT and closing the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait [7].
Kuwait's military reported actively intercepting missiles and drones, stating that explosions heard were from air defense systems intercepting hostile attacks [6][7][18]. Bahrain's Interior Ministry sounded air raid sirens nationwide and urged citizens to seek safe shelter [11][28][36]. Qatar's Interior Ministry announced the security threat had passed and conditions returned to normal [11]. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait as breaches of sovereignty and international law [31][32], and the UAE condemned an Iranian attack on a Saudi tanker as a threat to international navigation [33]. A Bahraini civil servant, Nawal Saad, lamented that "the spectre of war is looming once more" [25].
Pakistan, which mediated the original memorandum, called on both sides to exercise restraint, stating "a renewed conflict is in no one's interest" [18]. Qatar called for de-escalation after the Iranian attacks [32]. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov had in May expressed concern that the strikes threatened prospects for a sustainable settlement [37]. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said there was "no appetite" among EU leaders to expand a naval force to secure the strait [44], and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the war "illegal" and said it was causing damage to civilians and the global south [44].
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that a return to full-scale hostilities would have "catastrophic consequences" for the region, international peace, and the global economy [4][19]. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned reckless attacks endangering seafarers and reported nearly 6,000 seafarers remained stranded in the Gulf [19][40]. UNECE official Dario Liguti warned that prices and supply disruptions would continue for months [19]. Rystad Energy's Jorge Leon said shipping activity appeared "completely stalled" [4], and insurance industry sources said war underwriters advised shipping companies to pause voyages through the strait [5].
Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Trump for "restarting his reckless war with Iran," saying it would "cost more lives and waste more taxpayer dollars" [10]. Representative Ro Khanna called the strikes a "blatant violation" of the congressional war powers resolution and threatened to take the administration to court [42].
Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group said Trump's rhetoric was "hyperbolic" and did not necessarily mean the memorandum had collapsed, arguing both sides were negotiating unresolved details of the memorandum through force [25]. Kuwait University assistant professor Hamad Althunayyan said Tehran views Bahrain and Kuwait as "the most accessible and lower cost pressure points in the Gulf" [25]. Responsible Statecraft noted the competing interpretations of the MOU, with Tehran insisting on coordination for all strait transits and Washington rejecting any requirement for Iranian authorization [17]. Israeli security sources described the military as on high alert but said officials did not expect full-scale war, preferring continued economic pressure on Iran [11][43]. A DW fact-check identified a viral video falsely claiming to show an Iranian strike on a secret US base as footage of a December fire at a market in St. Petersburg, Russia [24].
Qatar announced negotiations would resume after the funeral processions for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei [26], while Trump stated he would allow negotiators to continue despite his pessimism [26][27]. The US Treasury revoked the general license for Iranian oil sales [20], and over 20 US Navy warships are patrolling Middle Eastern waters [8][29].