Renewed Attacks Between U.S. And Iran Stretch Into Third Day (Updated)
The future of U.S.-Iranian peace talks remains very uncertain after a crescendo of tit-for-tat strikes.
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“Seek overhead cover and shelter in place immediately,” the U.S. Embassy in Jordan cautioned this morning. “Remain indoors and pay attention to local announcements and alerts. The U.S. Embassy in Jordan will continue to review the situation and provide additional information as needed.”
Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Jordan – July 9, 2026
Location: Jordan, countrywide
Event: Reports indicate missiles, drones, or rockets are in Jordanian airspace. Seek overhead cover and shelter in place immediately. Remain indoors and pay attention to local announcements and… pic.twitter.com/QOpNpKLXTA
— U.S. Embassy Amman (@USEmbassyJordan) July 9, 2026
The Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) General Command said the country’s air defense systems “intercepted and shot down eight missiles launched from Iran toward Jordanian territory on Thursday. The interception operations resulted in the fall of missile debris, but no casualties or property damage were reported.”
“JAF is closely monitoring regional developments and remains at the highest level of operational readiness to safeguard the Kingdom’s airspace and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the command added. “JAF will not allow any party to violate Jordanian airspace under any circumstances.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-connected Tasnim media outlet claimed “that multiple explosions occurred at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan,” and that “Iranian forces also targeted American ships stationed off the coast of Bahrain with cruise missiles.” However, no visual proof of that has emerged. U.S. Central Command declined to provide any new operational details.
Muwaffaq Salti, as we have previously reported, has come under attack numerous times. The air base has long been a major regional hub for U.S. operations, and is being very actively utilized in the current conflict. It hosts the greatest concentration of U.S. tactical aircraft in the region, and thus is an extremely important target, where even one ballistic missile landing on an apron could destroy multiple prized fighter aircraft and take the lives of U.S. service members.
Scenes from IRGC Navy and Aerospace retaliatory strikes on Thursday answering the American terrorist army's aggression and disloyalty. pic.twitter.com/qwKo0SkLE2
Iranian officials also claimed the U.S. carried out new strikes in southern Iran, including on the perimeter of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
“According to the deputy governor of Bushehr Province, a U.S. projectile hit the perimeter area of the facility, which had already been hit several times during the current conflict prior to the April 8 ceasefire,” the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.
🚨 Iran reports that a few minutes ago, additional explosions were heard near the Bushehr nuclear power plant. https://t.co/zVJczmOpb5
Today’s attacks follow a series of strikes carried out on Wednesday by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The U.S. attacked scores of targets across Iran after President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that “we’ll probably hit them hard again tonight.”
“U.S. forces struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets including air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline,” the command said in a statement on X. “The latest strikes follow successful execution of offensive strikes in Iran the night before.”
🚨 CENTCOM RELEASES THE HIGHLIGHT REEL U.S. Central Command says American forces completed another round of strikes against Iran on July 8, hitting approximately 90 Iranian military targets along the coastline. Targets included air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets,… pic.twitter.com/y2HiEMNWdy
Iran, however, claims the attacks took place further inland, including on a railway bridge for a line linking the cities of Tehran and Mashhad, where former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is scheduled to be laid to rest. He was killed on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. The official Iranian IRIB media outlet claimed on X that the bridge attack interrupted rail service.
Passengers on the Tehran-Mashhad train, stranded due to the U.S. striking the railway, are chanting: "Iranians do not accept humiliation, even at the cost of their own lives." pic.twitter.com/9NhlUQqidr
— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) July 9, 2026
There were also unconfirmed reports from official Iranian media, an independent media outlet and eyewitnesses that another bridge in that region was attacked. The Agh Tekeh Khan Bridge in Iran’s northern Golestan province is a key link in a railway line running to Central Asia and ultimately Russia and China. The line has reportedly been an important means of trade between Iran, China and Russia during the now paused U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Eyewitness video shows damage to the Aq Taqeh Khan railway bridge in Iran’s northern Golestan province following overnight US strikes. The bridge is a key trade link connecting Tehran with its strategic partners, China and Russia.#US#Iranpic.twitter.com/0k5y50w79V
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) July 9, 2026
According to local reports, several enemy projectiles have struck the "Aq-Tekeh Khan" bridge on the railway line in the western area of Aq Qala, Golestan province. pic.twitter.com/eMO5todo2i
— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) July 8, 2026
Where all this leaves the ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran remains unclear. As we have frequently noted, the two sides signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17. The MoU provided a 60-day extension of the ceasefire to iron out an agreement to end fighting throughout the region, including Lebanon, prevent Iran from seeking nuclear weapons, end U.S. sanctions and resume the flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz among other points.
Control over the Strait has proven to be the biggest flashpoint, as evidenced by the aforementioned flare-up of fighting sparked by Iranian attacks on shipping there.
As we mentioned earlier in this story, both sides have declared the ceasefire over.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday after departing the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump claimed Iran still wants a peaceful solution.
“They called a little while ago,” the president proclaimed. “They want to make a deal so badly — I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal. I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal. That’s the problem.”
.@POTUS on Iran: "They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly — I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal. I don't know that they're going to honor the deal. That's the problem." pic.twitter.com/jQTENvyRGM
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 9, 2026
The American leader also called the Iranians “cuckoo.”
.@POTUS on Iran: "We hit them very hard last night — very, very hard — and we'll probably hit them hard again tonight… They're cuckoo. There's something wrong with these people. For 47 years, they've been the bully of the Middle East… It's very simple: they can't have a… pic.twitter.com/FtZH8l1f8L
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 8, 2026
Given all this, the future of diplomacy is an open question.
UPDATE: 2:50 PM EDT –
The official Iranian Mehr news outlet is reporting on Telegram that new explosions in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas, Bushehr and Choghadak. TWZ cannot independently confirm this and CENTCOM declined comment.
UPDATE: 3:13 PM EDT-
A U.S. official told the Jerusalem Post that the explosions in Iran are not a U.S. airstrike.
UPDATE: 3:49 PM EDT –
The official Iranian IRNA news outlet stated on X that the source of the explosions could be the armed forces’ defense systems, enemy fire or a downed drone.
After confirming residents in Bushehr and Choghadak heard the noise, the local governor stated that it is still unknown whether it stemmed from armed forces' defense systems, enemy fire, or a downed enemy drone, and no final conclusion has been reached.
