US pounds Iran with fresh strikes as Tehran retaliates, accusing Washington of 'war crimes'

• Second wave of US attacks targets coastal defences, missile sites after naval blockade resumes

• Iran strikes US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan as regional conflict intensifies

• Araghchi calls attacks on vital infrastructure 'serious international crimes', warns perpetrators will face accountability

• Trump says Tehran 'wants to settle' as White House insists Iran violated June MoU over Strait of Hormuz

• Qatar rejects reports of joining military action against Iran, says it remains committed to diplomatic efforts

 TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: The US on Thursday launched a second wave of strikes on Iran's coastal defence systems and missile sites within 24 hours of reimposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports, prompting Tehran to retaliate by targeting US military facilities in neighbouring Gulf countries as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of committing "war crimes" through attacks on the country's "vital infrastructure."

The latest escalation comes days after the collapse of a fragile ceasefire, raising fears of a return to full-scale conflict. Iran has also renewed its threat to further disrupt regional energy exports after blocking the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi accuses US of war crimes

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a statement posted on Telegram, said the US attacks constituted "undoubtedly a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law."

He said the strikes amounted to "serious international crimes" under international criminal law, including the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, adding that "all governments are obligated to prosecute and punish those who commit such crimes."

Araghchi also accused US officials of using "absurd rhetoric and diabolical threats," saying the hostility was directed against the Iranian people "for insisting on their independence, legitimate rights, and human dignity."

He warned that those responsible "cannot evade legal responsibility ... by claiming to be acting on the orders of their superiors."

#URGENT 3 explosions heard west of Iran's Bandar Abbas, says state broadcaster IRIB

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) July 16, 2026

Hostilities have intensified since Iran announced late on Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz. Ongoing military operations have also prevented commercial shipping from transiting the vital waterway, which carried around one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Reflecting growing market concerns, Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, closed at a one-month high of $84.95 per barrel on Wednesday.

 Fresh US strikes

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces launched strikes on Iran's coastal defence systems and cruise missile storage and launch facilities on Greater Tunb Island beginning at around 6am EDT, followed by a second wave of attacks approximately nine hours later against targets in multiple Iranian cities.

"US forces struck Iranian command centres, air defence sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities," CENTCOM said in a statement.

At 2 p.m. ET today, U.S. forces began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran for the sixth consecutive night to further degrade Iranian military capabilities.

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 16, 2026

It added that American forces also targeted facilities in Bandar Abbas, home to Iran's largest commercial port and key naval installations, including bases operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) overlooking the Strait of Hormuz.

"Earlier this morning, American forces struck coastal defence and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island during a 90-minute wave," the statement added.

The US military also said it disabled an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward Kharg Island after it ignored repeated warnings, firing Hellfire missiles into the vessel's smokestack.

Since reimposing its naval blockade on Tuesday, the US military said it had redirected two ships and disabled another attempting to approach Iranian waters.

 Iran responds with regional strikes

Iranian media reported multiple explosions in coastal areas, particularly around Bandar Abbas, while additional blasts or projectile strikes were reported near Ahvaz, Konarak, Sirik and Qeshm.

State broadcaster Press TV also reported at least two explosions in Khondab, approximately 250 kilometres southwest of Tehran, while Mehr News Agency said Iranian air defence systems had been activated in the capital to counter what it described as "hostile threats."

Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported that US strikes landed near a hospital in Ahvaz housing a paediatric cancer centre, forcing its temporary evacuation. According to the broadcaster, families were seen caring for their children outside the hospital following the attack.

In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced strikes on US military facilities across the region, including installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.

The Guards said they targeted "communication systems and fuel storage facilities of the US military" in Jordan.

Separately, IRIB reported that Iranian forces struck "radar systems, a Patriot air defence system, and fuel storage facilities at Ali Al Salem Air Base" in Kuwait, as well as US military facilities at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.

The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has also resumed.

Following the first wave of US attacks, Iran's top negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that the country's security depended on maintaining what he described as "Iranian arrangements" in the Strait of Hormuz.

 "We are in an essential and existential war with America," Ghalibaf said.

 Trump says Iran wants a deal

US President Donald Trump again expressed confidence that Iran would eventually seek an agreement with Washington.

Speaking at the Pennsylvania Defence and Innovation Summit, Trump said: "We'll have Iran defeated soon. They'll be defeated very soon."

Claiming Tehran was eager to negotiate, he added: "They don't like what we're doing, and they do want to settle. We'll find out whether or not we settle with them, or we just finish it off."

On Tuesday, Trump said US negotiators had informed their Iranian counterparts that "you better make a deal."

Iran's military spokesperson, however, said the only path to reopening the Strait of Hormuz was for Washington to fully comply with the 14-point memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in June and to recognise what Tehran called "Iranian regulations" governing ship traffic through the strategic waterway.

Despite the continuing hostilities, a possible humanitarian gesture emerged after Trump announced that Iran had allowed an American citizen detained since 2024 to leave the country.

"The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Human rights lawyer Jared Genser identified the released American as Dena Karari, who had been prevented from leaving Iran since December 2024.

I want to offer my profound thanks to the @JamesFoleyFund, @FoleyDi, & most especially #LizRichards for helping us bring our client #DenaKarari, who had been trapped in #Iran on bogus accusations since December 2024, home. In moments of celebration, it is crucial to remember that…

— Jared Genser (@JaredGenser) July 16, 2026

"Dena is now safe and traveling back to the United States," Genser wrote on X, thanking Trump for his efforts.

 Ghalibaf: Iran must rely on its own strength

Separately, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran had "no choice but to rely on our own strength and become stronger," arguing that the United States "seeks to hit Iran and advance its interests whenever it can."

"This is not limited to war, negotiations, or just this current US president," he said in a statement shared on social media.

"So our view of war or negotiations must be based on national interests and security, realistic and long-term; therefore, we have no choice but to rely on our own strength and become stronger."

 White House defends strikes

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump remained open to diplomacy despite the latest escalation.

.@PressSec: "There is a blockade of ships, directed by @POTUS, for ships entering and departing Iranian ports only...this blockade was reimposed due to Iran's inability to honor their agreement with the United States...the Strait is OPEN for ships that are not traveling to and… pic.twitter.com/8S9wKDcwhb

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 16, 2026

"The president is always open and willing to diplomacy," she told reporters.

"After Operation Epic Fury ... we did move forward into a diplomatic phase, if you will, but unfortunately, Iran has violated that."

Leavitt also defended the latest US strikes, saying they were launched after Iran violated the memorandum of understanding by firing on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. WATCH: US Air Force F-35 refuels during patrol in Middle East

U.S. Air Force F-35A stealth fighter aircraft are refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker while flying patrols over the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/KSbmYTH2LT

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 16, 2026

"I've spoken with the president about this ... Iran very much continues to talk to the United States of America and express that they want to make a deal with us because they are suffering devastating blows on behalf of our United States military," she said.

"The reason for the recent strikes over the course of the last several days is because Iran violated the memorandum of understanding that we struck with them," she added.

"Specifically ... they were not to fire on commercial vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz, and unfortunately, they have made the tragic decisions for them to do that."

Leavitt said President Trump "is not going to sit by and allow these active acts of terrorism to take place in the strait without ensuring Iran pays consequences for that."

Responding to questions about the Minab school strike, which reportedly killed 168 people at the start of the conflict, Leavitt said the incident remained under investigation.

"All I can speak to is what the president has said, as I speak on his behalf. The investigation continues and we would defer you to the Department of War for further questions," she said.

When pressed on Trump's refusal to accept responsibility for the strike, she reiterated that the investigation was continuing.

"I think the president feels that way because he knows that our military always acts in good faith and never targets civilians and children, unlike the other side in this conflict, Iran, which is well-known for killing women and children and innocent people in their country for a long time," she added.

 Qatar rejects Israeli media reports

Separately, Qatar categorically rejected Israeli media reports claiming it had agreed to participate in military operations against Iran.

Statement by the International Media Office of the State of Qatar in response to false Israeli media reportshttps://t.co/QSYVUKiz24 pic.twitter.com/FYjm59qhwX

— Qatar's International Media Office (@IMO_Qatar) July 16, 2026

"The State of Qatar will not allow such misleading allegations to undermine its active diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to an end," Qatar's International Media Office said in a statement.