US strikes Iran for 11th night, Trump threatens nuclear site near Natanz

Eleventh night of strikes

The United States carried out its 11th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran on the night of 21–22 July, with CENTCOM confirming the operations ended at 00:15 GMT on Wednesday. The strikes targeted military command centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and logistics infrastructure. The stated aim was to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas exports.

These unprovoked attacks have endangered hundreds of innocent sailors and undermined freedom of navigation.

The US military says Iran has attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the strait in the past three months. Despite the hostilities, the waterway remains open, and since early May US forces have assisted the safe passage of approximately 900 commercial ships and around 450 million barrels of crude oil.

Trump threatens nuclear site

The escalation follows a direct warning from President Donald Trump that the US intends to strike an underground nuclear facility near Natanz, which Washington suspects is used for uranium enrichment. Speaking during a White House meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Trump told reporters the site would be hit "very soon and very hard."

We will hit that area very soon and very hard.

He added that he would not normally announce a military target in advance, but asserted that Iran "can do nothing to prevent it." Iranian authorities warned that an attack on nuclear installations would widen the conflict and threatened retaliation against US and allied interests in the region.

Air defenses activated across Iran

Iranian state media reported that air defense systems were activated in western, eastern, and northeastern Tehran overnight. Explosions were also reported in several locations: near the city of Tabriz in the northwest, where a military area on the outskirts was struck at around 02:40 local time; in Bushehr, home to Iran's only operating civilian nuclear power plant; and in the southern ports of Chabahar and Konarak. Additional missile strikes were reported near Behbahan and Omidiyeh in Khuzestan province.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described its actions as a "disciplinary operation against the aggressors" and said the operation was ongoing, without providing further details.

Regional spillover and diplomatic moves

Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan all reported intercepting drones and missiles launched from Iran. The US also identified two soldiers killed in Jordan on Monday while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. In response, the Trump administration is reviewing options for expanding military operations, including potential ground troops and strikes on fortified underground complexes.

Amid the escalation, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, spoke by phone with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to intensify diplomatic efforts and coordinate on reducing tensions and strengthening regional security.

Pentagon requests emergency funding

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that the war with Iran has cost approximately $37.5 billion so far. He requested an emergency funding package, calling it "urgent and necessary" and warning that without it, the US military risks critical deficits in sustaining operations.