President Donald Trump has formally notified Congress that the United States is again at war with Iran, declaring in a letter dated July 10 that strikes commenced on July 7. The notification, addressed to Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, described the operations as designed to minimize civilian casualties while targeting Iranian military sites threatening U.S. forces and commercial shipping.
Trump told conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt that armed forces would strike Iran "tonight" and "tomorrow," identifying potential targets including a suspected nuclear installation at Mount Kolang Gaz La in Isfahan province. Washington will also resume a naval blockade of Iranian ports effective July 14 and impose a 20 percent fee on foreign vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The escalation follows Iran's attacks on three oil tankers that violated a June 17 memorandum of understanding. Iranian authorities had demanded ships use approved routes through the strait and responded to U.S. strikes with missiles and drones targeting U.S.-allied Gulf states.