US attacks kill at least one person in the city of Iranshahr and cause widespread power outages in Chabahar.
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Reporting from Doha, Qatar
A little less than an hour ago, warnings were issued across the region, particularly in Bahrain and Kuwait, but also here in Qatar.
In Qatar, the alert told people to stay home, stay away from glass windows and avoid going out until another alert was issued. Soon after, another message was sent saying the danger had passed and that people could, return to their normal lives.
But in Kuwait, the situation was different. The defence ministry reported the interception of some drones and missiles, without giving specific details about the targets or whether any impact had taken place.
People were told to take precautions and informed that any explosions they might hear were the result of those interceptions.
In Bahrain, the interior ministry also sent a similar alert to people, without saying whether there had been any attack coming from Iran.
Countries across the Gulf region are bracing for possible retaliatory attacks, as often happens whenever there are major US attacks against Iranian targets. Iran says it is attacking the sources of attacks on its territory. But in the Gulf, that remains the subject of a lot of contention and anger, with countries saying they are not part of this war.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the Parliament’s National Security Committee, says the country’s supreme leader has taught Iranians not to fear the US.
He warned of a response to the ongoing attacks, saying in a post on X: “Wait for the hard slap from Iranians.”
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has criticised Trump over the ongoing military conflict with Iran, warning that his actions have severe global consequences.
“Donald Trump’s war with Iran has cost American lives, and jacked up prices on gas and groceries for millions across the globe,” she wrote on X.
“Congress voted against this war. Congress shouldn’t allow Donald Trump to continue it.”
Her comments come after both chambers of Congress passed a bipartisan War Powers Resolution last month, directing the president to halt unauthorised military action against Iran unless explicitly granted congressional approval.
Donald Trump's war with Iran has cost American lives, and jacked up prices on gas and groceries for millions across the globe.
Congress voted against this war.
Congress shouldn't allow Donald Trump to continue it.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 8, 2026
The Qatari Interior Ministry has issued an alert saying the “security threat level is high” and urging residents to staying at home and in safe places.
Reporting from Washington, DC, United States
The US president is continuing to double down on his threats, telling reporters on board Air Force One that the US military will hit Iranian targets 20 times harder than Iran has struck those ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
And in fact, he said that that will be the ratio moving forward – that whatever Iran hits, the US military will retaliate 20 times harder.
And so it’s clear from the statements from the US president as well as from his vice president, JD Vance, that what is really critical for the White House is ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open. That is the red line for this White House.
As we heard from the US vice president in Milwaukee on Wednesday, he said he believes, as one of the people instrumental in negotiating the MoU, that Iran broke the deal, and that it only abided by the terms of the MoU for approximately one week. Then he says they began shooting.
And so the US’s standpoint is very simple: They promised to lift the blockade in exchange for Iran to stop shooting. Iran, they said, did not, and as a result, the military responses will continue.
The General Sraff of the Kuwait Army says its air defences are “currently intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks”.
It said the sounds of explosions are the “result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks”.
The Kuna news agency meanwhile said alarms were sounding across the country.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says a US cruise missile targeted the Aq Taka Khan bridge area in Aqqala, in the northern province of Golestan, according to Fars news agency.
The IRGC’s Golestan branch said the attack caused no casualties and vowed a “crushing” response.
The US president has been speaking to reporters on board Air Force One.
He again insisted the US has already won in Iran, saying “they have very little left, and they want to make a deal so badly”. But he said, “I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal, I don’t know if they’re going to honor the deal.”
When asked why Iran attacked commercial vessels if they want to make a deal, Trump responded, “Because they’re sort of crazy to be honest. It’s sounded crazy, they’re a little bit out of control, but they want to make a deal badly.”
He also warned of massive retaliation, saying, “We just hit him very hard. Every time they hit us we’re going to hit them 20 to one.”
When asked if the US is returning to a full-scale military conflict in Iran, Trump replied, “I don’t know. We have many ways we can win, but we’ve already won militarily.”
Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior says warning sirens have sounded and urged citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.
Iran has sent separate letters to the president of the UN Security Council and the UN secretary-general over the latest US attacks, according to the IRIB broadaster.
Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said the United States had once again launched “wide-scale military attacks” against Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said the attacks were a clear violation of the UN Charter and Washington’s international obligations.
Iravani also said the strikes amounted to another violation of Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter, as well as a fundamental breach of Clause 1 of the Islamabad MoU signed on June 16.
Reporting from Tehran, Iran
Last night and tonight marked the heaviest wave of air strikes since the announcement of the MoU and the fragile ceasefire.
The attacks tonight have expanded in scope and geography, compared to last night, extending into the southeastern cities of the country.
Several geostrategically significant points have been targeted. In Bandar Abbas, multiple explosions have been heard, as well as in the port city of Sirik. This is critically important, as Sirik oversees the Strait of Hormuz and plays a key role in Iran’s control and authority over the strait.
In other southern parts of the country – including Abu Musa, Jask and Qeshm Island – explosions have been heard, some linked to the activation of the country’s air defence systems, others to US strikes.
In the southeastern city of Konarak, explosions have also been reported. In Iranshahr, the airport facility was targeted, leaving at least one person dead and others injured.
In Chabahar, another important port city, heavy bombardment has been reported targeting wharfs as well as other military and civilian facilities. In the southwestern part of the country, in Bushehr, several air strikes have been reported. This is significant because the city hosts one of Iran’s nuclear power plants, though local authorities say the plant itself sustained no damage. Still, given the extensive nature of the attacks on multiple locations in Bushehr, the risk of casualties remains.
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reports that US forces have bombed a railway bridge outside the city of Aqqala in the Golestan province.
It said that seven “enemy projectiles” were fired at the Aq Tekeh Khan Bridge at about 1:30am local time (22:00 GMT on Wednesday), with two of them causing explosions on the railway track.
Reporting from Washington, DC
The latest US strikes on Iran appear to be a much broader military action than what was seen on Tuesday evening, and could mark a major escalation.
According to statements from the US president, Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials, Washington believes Iran violated the MoU reached between the two sides.
Vance said the deal was simple: the United States would lift the blockade, and Iran would stop firing on ships. But he said Iran only complied for about a week before it began targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz again.
US officials are now saying Iran must comply with the deal or face continued strikes. A US official has also told the Reuters news agency that the ongoing attacks on Iran are expected to be bigger than those carried out on Tuesday.
The diplomatic channel does not appear to be completely closed, but it is very narrow and effectively on pause.
The US president has suggested he is still willing to pursue diplomacy, though not through direct talks himself. Instead, he has allowed his envoys and Vice President Vance to handle those efforts.
At the same time, US officials say any attempt to shut down the Strait of Hormuz will trigger a military response.
The latest strikes are said to be targeting the IRGC’s coastal radar, antiship missiles and air defence systems, as Washington focuses on keeping maritime traffic moving through the strait.
Funeral ceremonies for Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have taken place in Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, where mourners gathered at the shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Hussein.
The ceremonies formed part of a wider funeral programme spanning Iran and Iraq, ending in Mashhad, a major Shia pilgrimage centre.
For Tehran, the events were an opportunity to project continuity after Khamenei’s death and reinforce his image as a religious and political figure whose influence extends beyond Iran. The funeral also highlighted the historic divide between Iran’s Qom-based clerical system and Iraq’s Najaf seminary, which has long maintained its independence.
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Hello, and welcome to our live coverage of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran, as well as Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.
Stay with us for the latest news and analyses from across the Middle East and beyond.
You can find our updates from Wednesday, July 8 here.
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