# Iran Live Updates: After Intense U.S. Strikes, Iran Targets Gulf States and Claims Strait is Closed

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-13 00:07 UTC · Category: World

## Executive Summary
Escalating military conflict erupts as the U.S. launches waves of strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to target Gulf states and claim the Strait of Hormuz is closed.

## Intelligence Brief
A significant escalation in military hostilities has occurred between the United States and Iran. According to reports from CNN and The Times of Israel, the U.S. military launched a fresh wave of strikes across Iran, which CNN specifically identified as the second night of strikes. Centcom.mil confirmed that U.S. forces have since finished this latest round of operations. In response to these actions, coverage from Click2Houston indicates that Tehran has launched its own strikes targeting Gulf states. Multiple international outlets are tracking the development with a focus on the scale and intent of the operations.


Al Jazeera reports that the U.S. launched these waves of strikes with the explicit aim of degrading Iranian military capabilities, noting that the bombs hit Iranian cities. The Guardian highlights the collapse of political solutions, reporting that Tehran has declared that diplomacy has proven futile. The reporting across Centcom.mil, The Times of Israel, and CNN emphasizes the repetitive nature of the attacks, describing them as new waves and sequential nights of aerial bombardment. To understand the current stakes, the coverage points to the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the vulnerability of the Gulf states. The conflict has moved beyond localized skirmishes into a broader regional confrontation involving the bombing of cities and the targeting of neighboring countries.


The transition from diplomatic efforts to active combat is underscored by The Guardian's mention of Tehran's view on the futility of diplomacy, suggesting a breakdown in communications that preceded the U.S. military's decision to initiate these strikes to degrade military infrastructure. Future developments will likely center on the status of the Strait of Hormuz and the reaction of the Gulf states targeted by Tehran. While Centcom.mil has stated that the latest round of U.S. strikes is finished, the geopolitical tension remains high. Observers will be watching for further official statements regarding the closure of the Strait and whether any new diplomatic channels are opened, though current coverage indicates a trend toward military escalation. The impact of the strikes on Iranian cities and the subsequent response from the Gulf region remain the primary focal points of ongoing reports from Al Jazeera and CNN.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Click2Houston | US ends latest round of airstrikes on Iran after Tehran strikes Gulf states | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxOTHBIbXRKbTliYjNEZ0xWWkQyamIzcFc5WFpHTDNVNnZtMWxTT21IeUJmalpZMkkzUFBJdU84OTRKU1pkNmhrdVRBRVpneHJxaFZEclZ6QzRKSGJJaUFqQ2F2RmxZQklieDNEUEE5TEJhMFB2TEx5M3c5VmpPRkx5Y3J0ekl4Y3hsMWNqbDEyOG90YkhDcHRiS3ZMRWNFQmJQUXM5dGZhOF95QjAycGd1NnR0VEd6dXhhV2ZELWVRdmxmMGxMcWQ0?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | US launches new wave of strikes against Iran as Tehran says diplomacy has proven ‘futile’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxQNWFGOFJuSzNYX1FIdUwzUlh3R3hEVDYxc2w5WmhaMWxfSFV0Q3lwU0poZXNfTzRzWmNwWjVULURYQzMyUHdlYV8yQUctLWQ1ZXdqalpuODBkd3FEWko2dFRjZGxaeTlwX3owSC1BVEpYRTZqUnNkaGpyMjhDeW03N3FOSFpsYUdmUEo4TUtzUDBEbVBGOUJrdmY0eFlIRi03UzNiVXpn?oc=5) |
| CNN | Live updates: US launches second night of strikes on Iran | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMic0FVX3lxTFBWM2xxSUF3aEVMRDZvd3BaWU1UbnJnd1dHRUxqOS12MzhMbDljeklxNFlMYUxuRkNwQlhSejdMUkVqWWRSY1Vnb25BUi1NalVUcmZIMW1HWDE1eUc3MEEzNlNtLXZsaHdEaDVwQjZaM2U3UHc?oc=5) |
| The Times of Israel | US military says it is carrying out a fresh wave of strikes across Iran | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYkFVX3lxTE1JMkNHOTZmUE9aRzBOWUVDYndjT2tBRm5NdjlrNnh1UHA5RUhSZlkyei15SG9VQ3FDUHdHcldSZ05YdExnT1NYcjR2TUp6dm1lei1YZ1lzQkV4OTNXSmVMQ3F30gFnQVVfeXFMTV9qOEg3RHVmWHVvaTVza0plN0F0czlMRjdFUF8wRG56LVRhRmlMLXNLX2t3ZE9qekI0Y3BsOHcycWdWTVdRYnJzUHFjY2FQb3hob05IMWladHpRWWhQLVJEWGxEb2lxdw?oc=5) |
| Al Jazeera | Iran war live: US bombs Iranian cities again as Hormuz standoff intensifies | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxQbzFBN0l4LWl2SWxzSGxUd1ZRQ25Pckc1bk9tcnlOcFYwcTJqdHJjU2NhNGFGbTNTUk90ZVB5Q0ZqT00yanlWNWpNR1BUdWtOOS1ZMkRFVlJnTjRiaUJGS0NEczZOWXVldEN6OGZIbG9zcVI5LUZwd2YzemNMYWdMTkNwdjQ0T1ZwQWR4YUpYNDVBcHZhdHBuVUgtNVA2aGk0ckQxOW5ybXFuUFNtYldaaFNKRGt6NHQ1dWMtNG12cWlmZ9IBxwFBVV95cUxQbE9Tbml3V3hjSXdXaGozdWZhUDJEYWVHckpmS1lxbjgyZGtxTjFxY0dkWExIZVQ2ZHhBaTNBZ1NPWlo3WTJieHlyYS1PNzVKODdTNVB0VUQ3ZVBvcFltZ0NDVEhxLURjb0tPSlBXSFhHbkNpRWVkNnVibmpYRFZhWkFvbmt0VjZEcU92SDROLTZ) |
| centcom.mil | U.S. Forces Finish Latest Round of Strikes Against Iran | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitwFBVV95cUxPUFZncW5PQTNzM1pNellHME5YRXlPa1hCS0E2VG9WUE9KTU1yU2tDcVJFSDhEemprM0ZySnRiaEl5SENLd3hJWnZkeGdCSDc2NHVlS0o3ZHVuZTRrREJ2SDFCR29kSGJ6XzZiV1lTa0FGVUJ5STBJdWdpS1F0MDhCc0NUcmpHLXFRMVBNMU5ZeHBIa2V0SGlERDlYeWU0YVNyMkNfRm81ckFZMjFzVGs4Wmt4anZXalU?oc=5) |
| Al Jazeera | US launches new wave of strikes against Iran aimed at ‘degrading’ military | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxQeE9veWxkT0VMYTI0NUFUbjFPNVI2MlpmYnNZMW8xdno3dUVKaVVqdWxSY1JnZDBOU2RvWDZST01uSkE1RktlNTItdU1oNEQzbEdQMFI3RmU0UVRSa3pkdlV1bHljRzNDV083RkQyalNwVXUxcld6d24zYkRycERZdTc4c3ZVc2FJNVk3ZDRwV25QOUNTZjRwQnVmaEFoNkJqMktvSjFSYkw3ek90dkQzb1RSa9IBuAFBVV95cUxPcTRYT2dJdDlPZDRqblkwUUNNbWJSUHhZNTdyb1NQc1BNeWNOMDdRb1dXUXJfYWlfTUlQZXY3ZEpJV2NjQmNQbGVrUzR4aFlNY0kzTEVNbzc3S0NPajl3Q0FkZldna2ExT2ZmYmlWblNfS3hSOXVxMXBfVHRObER6cWhHcE1vTG9XTmdTWkQ5YklHZnNicXNzWTdEWXJ2WVJ) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-13/iran-live-updates-after-intense-u-s-strikes-iran-targets-gulf-states-and-claims*