US strikes Iran near Strait of Hormuz, Iran retaliates
The US launched a new wave of strikes on Iran near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with drone attacks on US facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has collapsed after a series of escalating strikes over the Strait of Hormuz. The US launched multiple waves of air strikes on Iranian military targets along the southern coast, hitting ports, air defence systems, radar sites, and Revolutionary Guard fast boats. Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks on US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan, causing casualties and damage. President Donald Trump, speaking at the NATO summit in Turkey, declared the ceasefire over and called Iran's leadership 'scum' and 'sick people'. He threatened further strikes, saying the US would hit Iran hard again. The US also reinstated sanctions on Iranian oil sales and revoked waivers that had allowed Tehran to sell crude on the open market.
Iran insisted it was still abiding by the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in June, which had established a 60-day window for negotiations. Tehran accused the US of violating the deal by encouraging ships to use a southern route near Oman, bypassing Iranian control. Iran wants all vessels to pass through its designated corridor, which it sees as a key bargaining chip. The dispute over who controls the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas passes, lies at the heart of the renewed hostilities.
The strikes came as Iran held a week-long funeral for its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first US-Israeli strikes of the war in February. The funeral processions, which crossed into Iraq, drew huge crowds and were seen as a show of regime resilience. Despite the military exchanges, both sides indicated a willingness to continue talks. Regional mediators, including Qatar and Pakistan, urged restraint. The US demanded a public statement from Iran guaranteeing freedom of navigation through the strait, while Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mostafa Khamenei, called for revenge for his father's death.
The economic impact was immediate: oil prices rose by around 7% over the week, and global stock markets fluctuated. The UK and other allies backed the US response, blaming Iran for attacking commercial shipping. The situation remains highly volatile, with analysts warning that the pattern of tit-for-tat strikes could become the new normal unless a comprehensive peace deal is reached.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC NEWS | BBC One | BBC Two | Channel 4 | GB News | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US strikes expanded to central Iran, with explosions reported in multiple regions and air defence systems activated in Tehran. | · | |||||||
| Iran has been responding with attacks on US interests across the region. | · | · | ||||||
| Iran retaliated with drone attacks on US military sites in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. | · | · | ||||||
| The US carried out a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets. | · | · | ||||||
| The US military conducted further airstrikes on Iran for the seventh consecutive night. | · | · | ||||||
| The US struck around 90 military targets in Iran on the second night of strikes. | · | · | ||||||
| Oil prices increased. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| The US military struck multiple targets in Iran, including near the Strait of Hormuz, and struck a ship attempting to violate the blockade. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. | · | · | · | · | · | |||
| President Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran is over. | · | · | · | · | · | |||
| President Trump threatened to bomb Iranian critical infrastructure if Iran does not return to talks. | · | · | · | · | · | |||
| Iran released a dual US-Iranian citizen who had been detained since December. | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News provided extensive, rolling coverage with multiple correspondents and expert analysis. It focused on the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, the fragility of the ceasefire, and the internal Iranian perspective, including interviews with locals in Bandar Abbas. The tone was measured and analytical, emphasising the vague wording of the MOU and the risk of miscalculation.
- “The problem here though is that the MOU that was signed was very vague in details.”
- “I think this is likely to be the pattern that repeats itself over the next couple of months here.”
Sky News focused on the dramatic rhetoric from President Trump, including his description of Iranians as 'scum' and his threat to 'denuke' Iran. It also highlighted the NATO summit tensions, with Trump criticising allies for not supporting the war. The coverage was fast-paced and headline-driven, with a strong emphasis on the political fallout and the president's combative style.
- “I told them every time you hit, we hit. And of course they're dirty players so they go after everyone, probably including me.”
- “They're a bunch of scum, you want to know the truth, they're scum.”
BBC ONE West provided a more regional and human-interest angle, including interviews with Iranians affected by the strikes and coverage of the funeral of the Supreme Leader. It also reported on the economic impact, such as rising oil prices. The tone was sober and focused on the human cost and the limits of US military power.
- “America has come up against the limits of its military power. It has not broken the will of the regime in Tehran and it's hard to see how more strikes can do that where all the others did not.”
- “If war breaks out again god forbid what will be targeted this time people are exhausted by this situation.”
Channel 4 focused on the legal and diplomatic interpretations of the MOU, giving airtime to a former Iranian nuclear negotiator who argued that Iran was acting within the agreement. It also highlighted the split within Iran's leadership between hardliners and pragmatists. The coverage was more analytical and gave space to the Iranian perspective, questioning whether Trump's threats were credible.
- “The Americans, in violation of the agreement, opened their own corridor and they were basically forcing ships to refuse to use the corridor that the Iranians had opened in accordance with MOU.”
- “If Trump strikes tonight, the Iranians will hit back very hard.”
ITV1 focused on the human and political drama, including Trump's angry outbursts at the NATO summit and the impact on UK politics. It also reported on the fresh strikes and the risk of a return to all-out war. The tone was dramatic and emphasised the volatility of Trump's diplomacy.
- “They're scum. You know what scum is? They're scum. They're sick people. They're led by sick people.”
- “Tonight the US is carrying fresh strikes on Iran.”
GB News provided a concise, breaking-news style update, focusing on the US military's statement about degrading Iran's ability to threaten navigation. It also noted the ongoing funeral of the Supreme Leader. The coverage was brief and factual, with less analysis than other channels.
- “US military is currently conducting fresh strikes on Iran hours after President Trump declared that the ceasefire was over.”
- “US Central Command has said this evening that the strikes are attempting to degrade Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hmuz.”
BBC TWO's Newsnight provided in-depth analysis with a panel of experts, focusing on the economic impact of the strikes, the strategic stalemate, and the UK's exposure. It also discussed the political implications for the UK and NATO. The tone was analytical and critical of Trump's approach.
- “The fundamental problem is that both Trump and the Iranian leadership think they have won in recent weeks and neither have.”
- “We've lost a lot. We haven't gained anything.”
5 News provided a brief, headline-focused summary, emphasising Trump's harsh language and the threat of further strikes. It also mentioned the impact on oil prices and the NATO summit. The coverage was short and direct, aimed at a general audience.
- “President Trump isn't holding back with his language, calling Iranian negotiators evil, sick people.”
- “The US struck a range of targets last night. In response, they say, to Iranian attacks on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.