Iran says it is in ‘full-scale war’ as US widens strikes

Iran’s president said the country is engaged in a “full-scale war” with the United States as Washington expanded strikes across Iranian territory and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported attacks on neighbouring states and US targets.

President declares full-scale war

President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that “the reality is that today the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war,” according to a presidency statement. He added that “we must be realistic and accept the natural consequences of this resistance.”

US expands strikes beyond the Strait of Hormuz

State media and local authorities reported US strikes in the north and centre of Iran on Monday, including in provinces that host military bases and air-defence systems. In Bushehr, governor Mohammad Mozaffari told state news agency IRNA that “a few minutes ago, several locations in Bushehr city were hit by American enemy’s projectiles.” Bushehr is home to the country’s only operational civilian nuclear power plant.

Casualties and local reports

East Azerbaijan provincial crisis management head Majid Farshi told IRNA that “one person was martyred and several others injured” in an attack there.

Maritime actions and blockades

American forces boarded the M/T Wen Yao in the Gulf of Oman on July 16 “to ensure full compliance with the ongoing US naval blockade,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. Sailors later abandoned a vessel set on fire in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported. The Revolutionary Guards earlier said two oil tankers trying to transit the strait “exploded and were brought to a halt,” according to Tasnim news agency.

Reciprocal regional strikes

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it had hit targets in Bahrain, Jordan and Syria. In Syria, the Guards said they launched “a surprise attack on the enemy special operations command centre in the Al-Tanf region,” according to a Guards statement carried by state media. In Jordan, the Guards said it targeted US military aircraft stationed at Aqaba Airport “with ballistic missiles, causing severe damage to a number of them.” The Guards also said they hit US military targets in Kuwait, including an early-warning radar system that was “completely destroyed.” Kuwaiti authorities said their air defences were engaging hostile drone attacks.

Diplomacy and mediators

Despite the fighting, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said diplomatic exchanges with the United States via mediators were ongoing. He told a press conference in Tehran that “ideas have been conveyed to us by certain mediators.” Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni was set to travel to Pakistan’s capital on Monday, a Pakistani interior ministry source told AFP, without confirming the reason.

US military toll and operations

The US announced three new military fatalities and one service member missing in action over the weekend. CENTCOM said two service members were killed during Iranian missile and drone attacks on Jordan on Friday, and another service member died in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone. CENTCOM also said it had completed the ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran.

Local alerts and reactions

Bahrain’s interior ministry said air raid sirens had sounded and urged citizens and residents to head to “the nearest safe place.” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said Tehran would not allow the Strait of Hormuz to be used by its foes “to threaten Iran’s security and national interests.”

“The reality is that today the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war,” President Masoud Pezeshkian, presidency statement