US renews strikes on Iran as Trump threatens to attack underground nuclear site

July 22, 2026

The United States has conducted its eleventh consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military infrastructure and maritime capabilities in an escalating conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has announced plans to strike an underground nuclear facility near Natanz, prompting Iran to threaten retaliation against American interests and allies throughout the region. The conflict, which resumed after a failed ceasefire agreement collapsed last week, has caused oil prices to surge to $94 per barrel and has cost the United States approximately $37.

Who is affected

United States military forces and government
Iran and its military command structure
Iranian civilians in Tehran, Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, and Bushehr
Commercial shipping companies and mariners (over 30 vessels attacked in three months, hundreds of mariners endangered)
Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan (experiencing drone and missile attacks)
Houthi rebels in Yemen
Saudi Arabia (facing potential port blockade)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
US lawmakers and Senate Appropriations Committee members
Global oil markets and consumers affected by price increases
China and India (as destinations for rerouted oil shipments)

What action is being taken

The US is conducting strikes on Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure
Iran is retaliating against the US and its Middle East allies
Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan are intercepting drone and missile strikes with their air defenses
Iranian air defenses are being activated in Tehran and other cities
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is stating willingness to engage in diplomacy with Tehran
The Houthis are closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait to Saudi vessels
Two oil tankers are rerouting from their original destinations to the Suez Canal
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting urgent funding
President Trump is attending a transfer ceremony in Dover, Delaware for bodies of US servicepeople

Why it matters

This conflict represents a significant escalation in US-Iran tensions with far-reaching global consequences. The battle over the Strait of Hormuz—a vital waterway for international commerce—threatens freedom of navigation and commercial shipping, which impacts global trade and energy markets. The surge in oil prices to $94 per barrel demonstrates the immediate economic impact on worldwide fuel costs and could contribute to global inflation. President Trump's threat to strike Iran's underground nuclear facility risks further regional destabilization and could trigger broader conflict involving Iran's allies and proxies throughout the Middle East. The $37.5 billion cost to the US military, combined with the need for emergency funding and curtailed training operations, indicates substantial strain on American military resources and raises questions about the sustainability and strategic wisdom of the extended military engagement.

What's next

The US plans to strike the Pickaxe Mountain underground nuclear site near Natanz "pretty soon, and very heavily"
Trump threatens to "take care of" the Houthi rebels if they follow through on blocking Saudi ports
Defence Secretary Hegseth has requested that lawmakers approve an urgent funding boost to avoid curtailing military training
Trump is scheduled to attend a transfer ceremony in Dover, Delaware for the bodies of US servicepeople (on Wednesday)

Read full article from source: BBC