Iran said it was fighting a “full-scale war” with the United States on Monday as Washington expanded strikes across the Islamic Republic, President Masoud Pezeshkian declared in a presidency statement. The announcement came amid claims by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that they struck targets in Bahrain, Jordan and Syria, and threats from Tehran’s Yemeni allies to widen the conflict.
Iran says the confrontation began in late February and has since focused on what Tehran describes as U.S. assets across the region. “The reality is that today the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war,” Pezeshkian said, according to the presidency statement, framing the situation as open-ended and nationwide rather than limited skirmishes.
The Revolutionary Guards reported new strikes in several neighboring countries, though independent confirmation of those specific hits was not provided in the statement. So far, the Houthi rebels in Yemen-aligned with Tehran-had remained largely on the sidelines until their recent warning to blockade Saudi ports.
The Houthis said they would close or disrupt Saudi ports, a move that could threaten Riyadh’s ability to route some oil exports around the Strait of Hormuz and further strain global energy markets. Analysts say such a blockade would raise shipping costs and deepen regional tensions, increasing the risk of wider confrontation.
The situation remains fluid, with both military actions and diplomatic fallout likely to shape the next phase of the crisis. — AFP
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/iran-israel-war-live-updates-july-20-2026-marco-rubio-strait-of-hormuz-us-donald-trump/article71243740.ece
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-07-21 02:52:00
