US Hits 80+ Iran Targets, Reimposes Oil Sanctions as Tehran Threatens Strikes on 85 US Sites
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 7
US Hits 80+ Iran Targets, Reimposes Oil Sanctions as Tehran Threatens Strikes on 85 US Sites
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 7
Summary
US Central Command said it completed strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets, including air defenses, command networks, coastal radar, anti-ship missiles and over 60 IRGC boats near the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation came after Iran attacked three commercial vessels near the strait, which Washington called a ceasefire violation, and was paired with renewed sanctions on Iranian oil sales.
Iran’s military then warned of a “crushing response,” and the IRGC said it launched missiles and drones at 85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, where air defenses were activated and sirens sounded.
Explosions were reported at Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Qeshm Island and Kharg Island, which handles about 90% of Iran’s crude exports, with Iranian media also reporting injuries from shrapnel in Sirik.
The escalation threatens the already fragile US-Iran ceasefire and is set to dominate NATO summit talks in Ankara as regional allies press both sides to avoid a wider war around the Strait of Hormuz.
As renewed US sanctions hit Iran's oil, will its top buyer, China, defy the blockade and risk conflict?
With the ceasefire shattered, is the US-Iran conflict now spiraling into a wider, uncontrollable regional war?
Will military strikes deter Iran, or will they only accelerate a secret push to build a nuclear weapon?
Strait of Hormuz Crisis 2026: Oil Shipments Disrupted, Global Energy Markets Face Prolonged Shock
Overview
On July 7, 2026, attacks on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz shattered the fragile recovery of oil and gas shipments. In response, the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes against Iran and revoked a key sanctions waiver, immediately reimposing sanctions. This marked a sharp economic and military escalation, reversing recent diplomatic progress that had briefly eased tensions and allowed Iran to sell oil. The renewed hostilities quickly drove up global oil prices and raised fears of further conflict, highlighting how quickly fragile agreements can collapse and disrupt global energy security.