Iran Continues Confrontation with US as Tensions Escalate in the Middle East
Maziar Motamedi
Iran rejects Oman's proposal for joint control of the Strait of Hormuz, while fresh attacks fuel fears of a broader regional conflict. The IRGC released footage of missile strikes on a US base in Jordan, and Trump threatens retaliation.
Iran continues to push back against the United States and its regional rivals, as a series of new attacks heighten concerns about a wider conflict.
On July 29, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released footage of missile strikes targeting a US military base in Jordan, said to be in retaliation for "acts of aggression." Jordan confirmed intercepting five ballistic missiles, while US President Donald Trump threatened a strong response.
"They will hit back hard," Trump said on Fox News, adding that his administration was weighing additional measures against Iran-backed groups in Iraq.
The same day, a missile struck a border area in Iran's West Azerbaijan province without causing casualties. Israel subsequently reported that a Hezbollah-launched drone targeted an Israeli military vehicle in southern Lebanon. Yemen's Houthi forces also launched major attacks on Saudi oil facilities and vessels near the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
On the diplomatic front, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi declared that Oman's proposal for 50-50 control of the Strait of Hormuz was unacceptable. Tehran also rejected a US-backed southern route and demining operations by other powers in the strategic waterway.
Regional mediators continue to push for a diplomatic solution to the US-Israel conflict with Iran that began on February 28. However, recent attacks show little sign of direct talks. Iran accuses the US of aggression by imposing a naval blockade on southern ports and criticizes Washington for failing to uphold commitments made in a memorandum signed in June.
Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), said Iran increasingly believes a major US bombing campaign is unavoidable. "Policymakers in Iran have become more hardline, including on the nuclear program and IAEA inspections," she told Al Jazeera.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Iran insists it will not return to pre-war freedom of navigation. Tehran proposes that all inbound routes pass through Iranian waters, with outbound routes partially under Iranian control. "If our proposal is not accepted, the strait will remain closed, and we are ready for a new war," Gharibabadi stated.
In a related development, Iran weighs how to respond to the first incident in the Caspian Sea, where Ukraine attacked a commercial vessel, killing an Iranian. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Ukraine assured him the attack was "unintentional," but Tehran demands Kyiv take responsibility.
