U.S. and Iran Exchange New Strikes Despite Ongoing Peace Talks

U.S. Central Command conducted a third round of strikes against Iran on July 11, 2026, and U.S. forces carried out additional strikes on Iranian targets the next day, according to U.S. officials. The actions followed an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

-Israeli strikes targeted military, government and infrastructure sites. U.S. and Iranian delegations entered negotiations last month based on a signed memorandum of understanding, yet both sides have continued limited strikes.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on July 12 that he is deeply concerned by the serious escalation and renewed military confrontations in the Gulf, including Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. attacks on Iran, and Iranian attacks on targets in neighboring countries.

He said these attacks must all stop and warned that a return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences for the peoples of the region, international peace and security, and the global economy.

Guterres urged Iran and the U.S. to urgently resume negotiations. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry called Iranian attacks on Saturday night and Sunday a blatant violation of sovereignty and international law and said it holds Iran legally responsible.

Oman’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador and expressed dismay at the acts. Pakistan’s foreign ministry voiced deep concern and urged restraint and de-escalation. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Iran’s continued destabilizing behavior.

U.S. Central Command stated on July 12 that the Strait of Hormuz is open to all vessels seeking to lawfully transit the international waterway and that traffic is flowing. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' navy announced on July 11 that the strait will be closed until further notice and claimed it halted a commercial vessel with a warning shot.