US Central Command announced a ninth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, stating the attacks were designed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and to "swiftly punish" Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces responsible for killing American service members in Jordan [1][3][10]. Two US soldiers were killed defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, and a third service member died in Iraq during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone [9][15][7][25]. President Donald Trump said the strikes were carried out "in honor" of the fallen troops and stated the US would "never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon" [12][3]. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth posted that the sacrifice of the killed service members "only stiffens our resolve" [11][32].
Iran's military and leadership framed their strikes as proportionate retaliation for US aggression. The IRGC announced operations targeting US military installations across Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, and Syria, stating it had destroyed radar systems, aircraft, and ammunition depots [22][32]. The Iranian Army stated it carried out "large-scale attacks with kamikaze drones" against Camp Udairi and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait in response to US strikes on civilians and infrastructure in Iran [31][34]. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the US would suffer "unforgettable lessons" [9][21] and described Trump's signature as "utterly worthless and devoid of credibility" [7][11]. Commander Ali Abdullahi of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that "any aggression or barbarism will be met with a decisive and devastating response" [3][33].
Gulf host governments and the Gulf Cooperation Council accused Iran of war crimes for targeting civilian infrastructure. The GCC stated Iran's actions "constitute a highly dangerous escalation, a grave violation of international law and the United Nations Charter, as well as war crimes requiring international accountability" [34]. Kuwait's Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Ministry reported a power and water desalination plant was hit for the second time in two days [8][15][23]. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation stated one of its vital oil facilities was struck, causing "significant material damage and some injuries" [6]. Jordan's foreign ministry summoned Iran's charge d'affaires over "unjustified and blatant Iranian attacks" and declared Jordan's security "a red line that cannot be crossed" [7][9][34]. Bahrain's military stated it "confronted, intercepted and destroyed several treacherous Iranian air attacks" [17].
Iranian authorities and international monitors documented a civilian toll from US strikes. Iran's Health Ministry reported more than 50 people killed and over 500 wounded in US attacks over three weeks [16][32][21]. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and the region [39]. A desalination plant in Jask was destroyed, leaving 10,000 people without drinking water [39]. The human rights monitoring group HRANA documented 376 incidents across 15 Iranian provinces, including 48 deaths and damage to fishing vessels and infrastructure [41]. OCHA's Head of Humanitarian Affairs Gemma Connell expressed concern over the impact of the conflict on civilians and the destruction of Red Crescent equipment [40].
Iran declared the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding void, accusing the US of violating the ceasefire framework first. Deputy Foreign Minister Kasem Gharibabadi stated "Leider haben die Amerikaner mit ihren aggressiven Maßnahmen gegen ihre Verpflichtungen aus der Absichtserklärung von Islamabad verstoßen" (Unfortunately, the Americans have violated their obligations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding with their aggressive measures) [24], and said Iran was "no longer implementing" its commitments [35]. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said nearly every section of the agreement had been violated by the US within the past week to ten days [16]. Trump stated he "doesn't care" about Iran's position on the MoU [16].
The US strike on the under-construction Darkhovin nuclear facility drew divergent responses. Iran's Atomic Energy Organization called it "an aggressive and brutal act contrary to international law" and described the site as "one of the symbols of the dignity and self-sufficiency of the Iranian nation" [2][9][33]. The IAEA confirmed the facility was in early construction stages, contained no nuclear material, and posed no radiological risk [2][15][34]. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reiterated a call for "military restraint in the vicinity of all nuclear-related sites" [23][33].
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was "clear that Iran, at least some people in Iran, want to control the straits and hold that as leverage against the world," calling on other countries to "step up" to protect global shipping [14][23]. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused the United States of seeking control over the Strait of Hormuz [11][32]. The IRGC warned that vessels using "unsafe routes" at the encouragement of the US military would "certainly face accidents" and reported stopping two tankers in the strait, though some Iranian accounts claimed the vessels were "blown up" [7][9][12]. Daily vessel transits through the strait fell from nearly 140 to single digits, and Brent crude exceeded $90 a barrel [14][27]. War-risk insurance premiums for tankers rose, with Marsh's global head of marine insurance Marcus Baker noting rates had been "on a roller coaster mirroring the development of the price of oil" [38].
Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iraq called for an immediate halt to strikes and a return to mediated dialogue. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova urged participants to "immediately stop exchanging strikes and resume dialogue" [45]. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated restoring safe and free passage in the strait was in everyone's interest [46]. Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed Baghdad's willingness to mediate, noting the war had directly harmed Iraq's oil exports [44]. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi exchanged views with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi on mechanisms for safe passage through the strait [43].
Members of Congress from both parties challenged the administration's authority to continue the strikes. Republican Representative Thomas Massie argued the administration was "trying to steer around" the War Powers Resolution "by pretending you can play stop-start and restart the clock" [36]. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff introduced a new war powers resolution, stating "any assertion by the Trump administration that he gets 60 more days to act without Congress has no foundation in law" [36]. Trump formally notified Congress that military action against Iran had restarted, describing it as "limited, measured, planned, and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties" [36].
Israel's military stated it was intercepting missile debris near Israeli territory as a precaution after identifying missiles launched from Iran toward Aqaba in Jordan [7][15]. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz warned that any direct Iranian missile launch toward Israel would trigger an unconditional full-force retaliation [16][23].
Military expert Munir Shehdeh assessed that while US strikes had reached Iranian infrastructure deep inside the country, a ground intervention was unlikely [4]. Middle East specialist Sébastien Boussois judged that Trump "has no interest in getting involved in what would be a lasting war" and that resumed discussions would only strengthen the Iranian regime [23]. A Guardian opinion piece summarized in Egyptian media argued that Trump's lack of strategic vision and hasty decisions were the primary driver of the crisis, empowering Iranian hardliners [30].
Omani-mediated discussions on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz continued alongside Iraqi offers to broker negotiations between Washington and Tehran [43][44].