Key facts
- Iran and the U.S. have engaged in escalating retaliatory attacks.
- Iran claimed attacks on a U.S. base in Jordan and 21 other Gulf targets.
- U.S. forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites and shot down four drones near the Strait of Hormuz.
- Explosions were reported on Iran's Qeshm Island and in southern Iran.
- The UN warns Iran's nuclear risk has increased since June 2025 strikes.
- Inspectors can no longer regularly verify Iran's nuclear material, including 440.9 kg of high-enriched uranium.
- The U.S. is preparing a draft resolution to condemn Iran at the IAEA.
- The Pentagon has elevated the counterintelligence threat level for Israel to the highest level due to spying concerns.
- Yemen's Houthi movement rejoined the conflict against Israel, banning Israeli ships from the Red Sea.
- The UN food agency warns millions are being pushed into acute hunger due to the conflict.
- Israel plans to continue operations in Lebanon despite a U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement.
- Israeli strikes in Gaza City killed at least 11 Palestinians.
The United States and Iran are engaged in a cycle of escalating retaliatory attacks, significantly increasing regional tensions and the risk of a broader conflict. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed attacks on a U.S. base in Jordan and 21 other targets in the Gulf, retaliating for U.S. strikes near the Strait of Hormuz. In response, U.S. forces struck Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites and shot down at least four Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz that posed an imminent threat to maritime traffic. Iran's IRGC also released footage of long-range missile launches, stating they targeted U.S. bases in response to a recent attack. Explosions have been reported on Iran's Qeshm Island, described as a fortress with an underground missile facility, and in southern Iran, with Iran's IRGC reporting U.S. attacks damaged infrastructure.
Amidst these exchanges, the UN nuclear watchdog warns that Iran's risk of covertly developing nuclear weapons has increased since U.S.-Israeli strikes in June 2025, with inspectors unable to verify Iran's nuclear material, which includes 440.9 kg of high-enriched uranium. The U.S. is preparing a draft resolution to condemn Iran at the IAEA, though Russia believes this could antagonize Iran and complicate wider talks. The U.S. military has also elevated the counterintelligence threat level posed by Israel to the highest level due to spying concerns. In Yemen, the Houthi movement has rejoined the conflict against Israel, banning Israeli ships from the Red Sea, adding another layer to the complex regional dynamics. The UN food agency warns that the ongoing conflict is pushing millions into acute hunger, particularly in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, with the World Food Programme forced to ration aid due to funding cuts.
Ceasefire efforts in other parts of the region remain fragile. Israel plans to continue operations in Lebanon despite a U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement, aiming to establish a buffer zone, while Israeli strikes in Gaza City have killed at least 11 Palestinians. Hezbollah has rejected the new Lebanon ceasefire plan. Despite three separate ceasefire agreements, deadly strikes continue in Gaza, Lebanon, and the Gulf region, and the fragile ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. faces new strain. President Trump has warned Iran against further targeting of U.S. bases, stating that such actions could lead to significant repercussions. The U.S. military has refuted Iran's assertions of launching warning shots at U.S. warships. Little progress has been made between the U.S. and Iran toward an interim deal to end the war that began 100 days ago, with fresh attacks increasing pressure on a fragile ceasefire. The U.S. military also fired on an India-crewed tanker suspected of involvement in Iran's oil trade, continuing its blockade of Iranian ports.