us iran strikes: 7 facts about the new attacks on 80+ targets after khamenei’s death
The United States launched a fresh wave of military strikes against Iran on Tuesday, hitting more than 80 targets in what US Central Command described as an “offensive” operation. The us iran strikes come just days after Iran’s Supreme Leader was killed in an earlier American strike, and after his funeral drew millions of mourners in Tehran. Here is what is confirmed so far.
what centcom actually said
US Central Command confirmed Tuesday it had carried out “powerful strikes” against Iran, striking more than 80 targets across the country. According to CENTCOM, the us iran strikes hit air defense systems, coastal surveillance systems, surface-to-air missile sites, anti-ship cruise missile sites, drone launch sites, and port facilities.
why the us says it struck
A US official told CNN and Fox News that the us iran strikes were “a direct result of the acts of international terrorism that have been perpetrated by Iran on innocent ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.” The official added: “The Iranians know the consequences to their ridiculous actions, yet they still chose to carry out these attacks.”
how trump approved the strikes
According to a US official who spoke to Fox News Digital, President Trump approved the strike plan and ordered it while attending the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. He reportedly convened top officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine before authorizing the operation.
the oil sanctions that came with it
Alongside the us iran strikes, the United States reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil sales, revoking a previous waiver that had allowed Tehran to sell crude. According to Fox News, millions of barrels of Iranian oil were left without a clear destination as a result of the reimposed sanctions.
how iran is responding
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the us iran strikes and the reimposed sanctions as a “clear violation” of the memorandum of understanding reached between the two countries last month. The ministry stated it “holds the US government responsible for the consequences of this breach of commitment,” and separately accused the United States, along with Israeli actions against Lebanon, of having “repeatedly committed both minor and major violations of various provisions of the memorandum over the past 20 days.”
Mohsen Rezaei, an advisor to Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, told the Jerusalem Post that Iran is “fully prepared” for additional strikes, stating plainly: “Trump intends to attack again, and we are fully prepared.”
the assassination and funeral that preceded this
The us iran strikes follow closely on the death of Iran’s previous Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed along with members of his family in an earlier US strike. According to Democracy Now, millions joined the funeral procession toward Azadi Tower in Tehran to mourn him. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has since assumed the role of Supreme Leader.
Former US Middle East envoy Dennis Ross wrote on social media that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had undercut Trump’s efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, adding that “the Iranians never know when to say when,” and that Trump “did not want to resume the war.”
what happens next
As of this reporting, US officials say strikes inside Iran remain ongoing, with continued targeting of air defense and missile infrastructure. The ceasefire framework reached last month, which included a 60-day negotiating window, now appears to be in serious jeopardy following the us iran strikes, the assassination of Iran’s previous Supreme Leader, and the reimposition of oil sanctions. President Trump departed for the NATO summit in Turkey immediately following the strikes, where he is expected to face further questions from allies about the conflict’s trajectory.
Sources: CNN.com, FoxNews.com, DemocracyNow.org July 6 to 7, 2026
