Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles at United States military installations in Jordan on July 29, ending a five-day pause in direct US-Iran military exchanges [2][5][11]. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that all Iranian missiles were intercepted and that it launched strikes against dozens of IRGC targets inside Iran — including command centers, missile and drone facilities, and maritime capabilities — in retaliation [1][5][30]. The IRGC stated its attack on a US air base and command center in Jordan was "in response to the acts of aggression of the American child-killing army" and that its naval forces struck three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after they ignored warnings [5][8][13].
The United States and Saudi Arabia conducted joint strikes on Iran-backed militia positions across seven Iraqi provinces, killing at least 20 Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) fighters and wounding 32 [2][12][14]. CENTCOM described the operation as a response to over 30 IRGC-directed drone attacks in 72 hours [8][24]. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence stated that "terrorist militias loyal to Iran" were linked to attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities [8], while the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs framed the strikes as legitimate self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, accusing Iran-backed militias of pursuing "مسار تصعيدي غير مسؤول" (an irresponsible escalatory path) [3]. The PMF condemned the strikes as a "treacherous terrorist attack" on an official Iraqi security institution and denied involvement in the Saudi drone attacks [14][27]. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq called Saudi allegations "fabrications" and warned that "any foolish Saudi action will be met with a harsh response" [2][13].
The Iraqi presidency denounced the US-Saudi strikes as "an unacceptable attack and a blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty" [5][12][16]. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi convened an emergency National Security Council meeting and ordered security agencies to investigate alleged attacks by militant groups, stating Iraq is committed to "preventing Iraqi territory from being used as a route or launching point for any attack targeting brotherly or friendly countries" [13][24]. Iraq's Ministerial Council for National Security adopted a comprehensive security plan to confront any violation of sovereignty and prevent the use of Iraqi territory to threaten neighboring states [12]. Cleric Mukteda el-Sadr urged the IRGC and armed militias to avoid attacks from Iraqi territory, warning militias not to give pretexts to target "our brothers in the Gulf" [14].
A fire on a US-owned floating gas storage vessel at Egypt's Damietta port spread to a second LNG tanker, extending the conflict's geographic reach to the Eastern Mediterranean [7][15][30]. Egypt's Oil Ministry confirmed the fire was extinguished with no injuries but did not identify a cause [7][15]. Maritime security firm Ambrey reported that a Bermuda-flagged tanker with Greek owners and a US-operated FSRU were hit by at least one unidentified drone [15][30], while Kpler warned the explosion affected a first-order LNG import node in the Eastern Mediterranean [15]. President Donald Trump linked the incident to Iran and vowed to "hit them very hard, because it's our turn to do so" [15][30].
Trump repeatedly stated that the United States is in "very deep negotiations" with Iran and that a negotiated de-escalation remains achievable [9][11][16]. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei contradicted this, stating: "Derzeit stehen wir jedoch in keinerlei Verhandlungen mit den Vereinigten Staaten" (We are currently not in any negotiations with the United States) [9]. Trump told Fox News the strikes in Iraq were "coordinated with the Iraqi government" [5][12], a claim the Iraqi presidency's condemnation of the same strikes did not address [5][12].
The Trump-Netanyahu meeting at the White House was described by both sides as positive and productive, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it "one of the best conversations I've ever had with the president of the United States" and stating the two discussed "our common goal: ensuring that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons" [8][9][13]. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said Iran continues "to choose terrorism over negotiations" [8]. Analyst Hamidreda Azizi assessed that Iran's missile attack was the first time Tehran initiated an attack without a prior US or Israeli offensive, suggesting it may have been a preemptive warning tied to the Netanyahu-Trump meeting [11][24]. Saudi analyst Hesham Alghannam stated that "Tehran is now using its proxy network to sustain leverage while the diplomatic track absorbs international attention" [6].
Iran rejected Oman's proposal for 50-50 joint management of the Strait of Hormuz, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazım Garibabadi stating the plan did not sufficiently address Tehran's concerns and presenting a counterproposal giving Iran greater control over shipping lanes [14][31][34]. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy stated it maintains "full control" over the waterway and will respond to "unlawful U.S. military interference" [16][19]. CENTCOM stated it continues to enforce a naval blockade against ships docking in or departing from Iranian ports, having redirected 20 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two [7][12]. The US Treasury imposed new sanctions on Iranian insurance companies and oil tanker operators, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stating the US "will not allow Iran to hold global commerce hostage" [25].
Yemen's internationally recognized government accused the Houthis of working with Iran's IRGC to impose fees on ships transiting the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, with Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani calling it "a dangerous escalation aimed at transforming one of the world's most strategic maritime corridors into a permanent source of funding for the militia's military and terrorist activities" [6][7][14]. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Seri stated the group shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone "carrying out hostile operations" in Yemeni airspace and stated they forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn around as part of their blockade [13][19]. China's Foreign Ministry called for restored free passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea [7][38], while a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Beijing has separately negotiated ship-by-ship safe passage arrangements with the Houthis for Chinese oil tankers [7][39].
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko stated Moscow views the US strikes as a unilateral violation of the memorandum of understanding and called for continued Iran-US diplomatic engagement [33]. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that "the reprieve from fighting can buy mediators time to find a way back to diplomacy" [2], while Pakistan's UN ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad expressed concern over attempts to drag the region into broader conflict and urged all sides to uphold commitments under the Iran-US MoU [2]. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish condemned attacks on commercial vessels, noting that Indian citizens were injured and one killed in the attacks [7].
Oil prices rose approximately 6 percent following the exchanges [16][31]. South Korea, which depends on the Middle East for 70 percent of its oil, declared an energy-security emergency, with Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Shin-hak stating the government would restructure the oil industry and diversify import sources as "instability in the Middle East may become permanent" [44]. Mexico's peso depreciated amid market concerns over Trump's threats to Iran [10], while the IMF assessed that Saudi Arabia's economy has shown "agility and resilience" due to its diversified oil and logistics infrastructure [12]. Egypt, which lost an estimated $7 billion in Suez Canal revenue in 2024, is pursuing a two-pronged approach of publicly backing Saudi Arabia while maintaining channels with Iran [29].
Ukraine struck a vessel transporting military cargo between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea, which Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned as "an act of aggression" that cannot go unanswered [18]. Ukrainian officials framed the strike as part of a broader strategy to disrupt Iranian military supply lines to Russia and offered drone-defense expertise to Gulf states [18][23]. Analysts at the Royal United Services Institute and Chatham House assessed that neither Kyiv nor Tehran has a strong incentive to convert the standoff into direct confrontation [18].
RUSI senior research fellow Burcu Ozcelik assessed that "both sides will eventually need a negotiated return to the now faltering MOU that they can present domestically as a defensible outcome" [2]. US media reported that Admiral Brad Cooper assessed Iran's Hormuz strike capability was significantly degraded, while General Dan Caine warned President Trump about a shortage of air defense missiles in the region [26].