The United States military completed a wave of strikes against dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets inside Iran on July 30, ending a pause of more than five days, with US Central Command calling the operation a "powerful response" to Iranian missile attacks on American forces in Jordan and ships in the Strait of Hormuz [1][4][7]. The IRGC claimed a separate attack on Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base, destroying two drone hangars and a fuel tank used for US military aircraft [28]; CENTCOM denied any damage to US personnel or equipment, though BBC Persian satellite imagery appeared to show a destroyed structure at the base [38]. A suspected Iranian cyberattack on Minnesota water systems was reported, with the cybersecurity firm Tenable stating the method matched that of the CyberAv3ngers collective, which Washington accuses of acting under Tehran's control [22].

President Donald Trump said the US would "hit them very hard" while allowing negotiations to continue [3][4]. The IRGC pledged that "the aggressor will be punished today" and stated its strikes on US bases in Jordan were "in response to the acts of aggression of the American child-killing army" [1][4]. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated Trump "took decisive action to ensure Iran could never harm the US homeland, troops, or allies" [45].

Kuwait's Defence Ministry announced that one worker was killed in an Iranian attack on a building belonging to a Chinese company in the country's north, calling it "heinous" [1][6]. Jordan's armed forces said they intercepted five missiles launched from Iran [1][4][11]. Bahrain condemned what it called a "systematic pattern of aggression" and called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting [36]. A Nepalese driver working for a Chinese company was confirmed killed in the Kuwait strike [42].

The first joint US-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq killed at least 20 members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces and wounded 32 others [4][5][13]; sources also reported Iranian advisers killed, though accounts differed, with Dawn reporting five [8] and The Guardian reporting six [13]. The Iraqi presidency denounced the operation as "an unacceptable attack and a blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty" [4][16]. Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said Baghdad "did not have any knowledge" of the strikes and did not approve them, contradicting Trump's claim of coordination [7][8][22]. Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba warned that US and Saudi forces would pay a "heavy price" [16].

The Strait of Hormuz remained a central dispute. A senior Iranian official rejected an Omani proposal for joint control as "unreasonable," stating Iran wants sole control over the inbound route [16]. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi affirmed Tehran wants exclusive control over vessels entering the Persian Gulf [32]. Oman proposes a maritime-services fee model under international law [14]. The US Treasury imposed sanctions on two Iranian insurance companies and eight oil tanker operators, with Secretary Scott Bessent saying the regime is "desperate for cash" with inflation in triple digits [21][24]. The International Maritime Organization's Secretary-General condemned attacks on commercial ships, stating "no seafarer should have to risk their life simply for doing their job" [39].

Saudi Arabia announced a 14-nation maritime coalition to protect Red Sea shipping, describing it as "purely defensive" [7][22]. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman told US Vice President JD Vance that the kingdom could handle the Houthi threat without US military involvement [29]. The Houthis denied responsibility for a drone attack on Egypt's Damietta port that set fire to two gas vessels [6][13], while claiming to have turned back a Saudi tanker [34]. The Houthis are reportedly considering transit fees on ships in the Bab al-Mandeb, guided by Iranian advisers with Chinese ships exempted [40]. London's marine insurance market widened its high-risk zone in the Red Sea [41].

Egypt confirmed the Damietta port fire was caused by a drone attack [1][7], with President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi calling on the international community to "put an end to the escalation" [22]. Analysts described Egypt's position as an economic balancing act driven by billions in Suez Canal revenue losses and rising inflation [30]. Oil prices spiked 6.8 to 7.3 percent with Brent crude nearing $90 [13][16]. African nations including Kenya and Ethiopia reported fuel shortages and emergency rationing [48], while European markets saw rising gasoline prices in Italy and Cyprus [44]. Japan's Nomura Research Institute warned a Houthi blockade would severely impact alternative oil procurement routes [43].

Pakistan's foreign ministry said US-Iran negotiations remain ongoing, with spokesman Tahir Andrabi stating Pakistan is "doing everything possible to bring all parties back to the protocols of the Islamabad accord" [6][7][22]. Analysts described Washington as lacking an agreed strategy, with Lyle Goldstein saying the US is in a "really difficult situation" and Ian Lesser noting "it is unclear what the American strategy is at this point" [14]. Esfandyar Batmanghelidj suggested Iran could accept a transit-fee arrangement as a way to claim strategic gains [14].

Middle East experts assessed that Iran's missile attack signals confidence. Hamidreza Azizi said "Iran believes they are holding the upper hand. This is a kind of calculated escalation" [25]. Danny Citrinowicz argued Iran sees the crisis as an opportunity to reshape the Gulf security order [25]. RUSI's Burcu Ozcelik warned of "a prolonged period of sustained confrontation, where regular military exchanges become the norm rather than the exception" [1]. Dawn's editorial called the phase "extremely dangerous" and urged a long-term ceasefire [31].

The International Committee of the Red Cross reported civilians are "paying a heavy price" in Iran, with civilian infrastructure hit and daily life in Tehran fundamentally changed [46]. Iranian provincial officials confirmed three members of a family, including a two-year-old, were killed on Qeshm Island [17][35], and two children were reported injured near Bushehr, the site of Iran's nuclear power plant [23], though the Governor of Bushehr Province reported no casualties from strikes near Choghadak in the same area [35].

In Washington, veteran-led protesters called for an end to the war, with Army veteran Kevin Benderman stating "there is no justification for the war" [45]. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed only one-third of Americans support the conflict [5], and a CNN/SSRS poll put support below 30 percent [14]. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump in what he called an "excellent" meeting [34], with a senior Israeli official saying the two sides discussed three options: continuing negotiations, maintaining a maritime blockade, or expanding military strikes [5].

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi protested Bulgaria's and Cyprus's authorization of US base access, calling Bulgaria's decision condemnable and contrary to friendly relations [15]. Bulgaria's Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said no offensive weapons would be deployed on Bulgarian territory and that temporary logistical support does not make Bulgaria part of the conflict [15]. Turkish analysts argued Ankara's NATO membership and diplomatic balancing make an Iranian strike on Turkish territory unlikely, noting Incirlik Air Base has not been used in the campaign [47].

A separate standoff emerged between Ukraine and Iran after a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. Ukraine said it targeted a vessel transporting military cargo between Iran and Russia [18]. Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned it as "an act of aggression that cannot go unanswered" [18]. Analyst Natia Seskuria said the strike "appears to be in line with Kyiv's broader strategy of targeting Russian military capabilities" rather than opening a new theater against Iran [18]. India's foreign ministry said it is negotiating a sanctions waiver with the US to protect its Chabahar Port partnership with Iran [49].

Pakistan's mediation continues alongside the hostilities, with Andrabi stating negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz remain ongoing [6][31]. Trump said there was a "good chance" of progress in negotiations [34], while Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei blamed the closure of the strait on "US and Israeli military actions" [22].