The U.S. and Iran blow past red lines as they lurch back toward all-out war

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: and Iran blow past red lines as they lurch back toward all-out war Updated July 18, 20266:57 AM ET Originally published July 18, 20262:01 AM ET By The Associated Press Two men wade in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz with vessels anchored in the background, off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Sunday, July 12, 2026. Razieh Poudat/AP Photo/ISNA hide caption toggle caption Razieh Poudat/AP Photo/ISNA A week after the United States and Iran signed a preliminary deal aimed at ending the war, an Iranian drone slammed into a cargo ship sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. strikes bridges in Iran; Tehran targets U.

bases in the Gulf There were no casualties or major damage, but the June 25 attack set off a chain of hostilities that would put the two countries on a path back toward all-out war less than a month after they agreed to stop fighting. Each strike and counterstrike chipped away at the pillars of the agreement, which has now collapsed, though there are still efforts to salvage it. Red lines set by both sides have been crossed.

The Details

A return to full-scale war that would further destabilize the Middle East and disrupt the world economy appears increasingly likely. Sponsor Message Here's a look at how we got here. Iran attacks ships using a route bypassing its control The attack on the cargo ship came after Iran had warned vessels not to use an alternative route through the Strait of Hormuz that is overseen by the U.

military and intended to be outside Tehran's control. Iran had largely shut down the waterway — which carried a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas in peacetime — after the surprise U. -Israeli attack on Feb.

28 that started the war. Tehran has come to see control over the strait, and its far-reaching economic impact, as a key pressure point in its confrontation with the U. Map showing multiple possible shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

What Experts Say

Will Jarrett/AP Photo hide caption toggle caption Will Jarrett/AP Photo The preliminary agreement called for the strait to be fully reopened, but it also contained language suggesting Iran would manage traffic and potentially charge fees in the future. Iran has seized on that, saying it has the right to control the strait and that the alternative route is a violation of the deal. and others dispute that, saying the strait should be open to all and toll-free, as it was before the war.

strikes Iran, which retaliates against Gulf states The U. launched strikes on Iran a day after the June 25 attack, hitting what the U. military said were missile and drone locations and coastal radar sites.

Sponsor Message The following day, Iran attacked a tanker using the alternative route through the strait, and the U. responded with more strikes. This time, Iran lashed out at nearby Gulf states, attacking Kuwait and Bahrain, both of which host American troops.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.