The US has suspended airstrikes against Iran seeking dialogue, but will resume attacks if necessary – The Abraham Lincoln remains in place. It was correctly predicted that the American military cannot conduct large-scale operations after a significant portion of its arsenal had been retired or reduced
Two major developments are taking place in the Persian Gulf on July 10, 2026. Kuwait and Bahrain have jointly launched a missile attack on southern Iran, triggering a series of explosions across various cities and ports. However, the most significant news is that the US is suspending airstrikes and restarting dialogue with the Iranians. It had been correctly predicted that the American military cannot conduct large-scale military operations since a significant portion of its arsenal had been retired or reduced.
Kuwait and Bahrain attack southern Iran amid barrage of explosions – US denies any involvement in the attacks
Explosions occurred in several cities across southern Iran, and all indications suggest that forces from Bahrain and Kuwait launched missile strikes. The US has officially announced that it has no connection whatsoever to these missile attacks.
Israeli Channel 11 emphasizes that Gulf states (likely Kuwait and Bahrain) conducted a joint offensive operation against Iran. According to eyewitnesses, surface-to-surface missiles were spotted being launched from Kuwaiti territory. According to the state media outlet IRNA: Contrary to certain reports published on social media, no explosions have been reported so far in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Shirik, and Jask. Iraqi media outlet Naya (close to the Popular Mobilization Forces) reported, citing its sources, that the missile strikes on Iran were executed from Kuwait and Bahrain. According to Al-Arabiya: The United States has no involvement in the attacks inside Iran on July 10, 2026. Axios claims, citing an American official: We have nothing to do with any military strike in Iran at this moment. An American official stated to CNN that the US military is not currently conducting any active military operations in the area.
Where explosions were reported in Iran
Two explosions were reported around Bushehr and near the town of Choghadak. Three explosions were heard in Konarak.
Claims by US officials: Technical talks with Iran continue
Reuters, citing an American official on Iran affairs, claimed that the US administration remains committed to finding a solution and technical talks continue. This memorandum of understanding is performance-based, and Iran's actions represent an unacceptable level of failure. Axios quotes an American official stating: The lack of new strikes by the US military against Iran on July 10, 2026, was the result of regional diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions. According to Al Jazeera, a US Department of Defense official maintained that the explosions recorded in Iran were not due to military actions by the United States. The official did not specify what might have caused the explosions or who might be behind them, limiting the statement to declaring that the blasts are not the responsibility of the United States. According to reports in the US, one of the reasons Washington is moving forward with this clarification may be linked to ongoing negotiations in the region, where several countries are participating in active mediation efforts.
CENTCOM (US): Iranian claims of controlling transit in Hormuz are false
According to the American command of CENTCOM, the headquarters of the US military, claims by Iranian media that passage through the Strait of Hormuz is permitted only via routes designated by Iran are completely false. The US has proposed a new transit route for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks.
The US has suspended airstrikes against Iran... but will resume attacks if necessary... wanting dialogue... the Abraham Lincoln remains in place
The US military has suspended attacks against Iran due to ongoing negotiations, but it could resume them at any time, reports CNN. "Several officials told CNN that preparations are underway for potential US strikes, if needed, but that diplomacy is the priority for the time being." According to CNN, the United States deliberately launches attacks and then pauses to avoid an escalation into full-scale conflict. Specifically, the crew of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was reportedly loading ammunition onto fighter jets previously, and pilots conducted maneuver exercises in preparation for potential strikes. "American officials stated that Iranian claims of new US airstrikes already taking place were untrue. However, they added, the situation is evolving dynamically and airstrikes could resume if deemed necessary." On the night of Thursday, July 9, 2026, Washington attacked the southern and northern parts of Iran. According to CENTCOM, the military hit approximately 90 targets. According to US President Trump, the attacks were a response to Tehran's actions against commercial shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. He threatened to escalate the attacks if a similar incident occurred again. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the attacks as a severe violation of the memorandum of understanding. The IRGC, for its part, launched a missile attack against a US command center in the Middle East and the Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan. Iran struck US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan.
The US seeks de-escalation in the Persian Gulf – Seeking to salvage the memorandum of understanding with Iran
Behind the scenes, diplomatic efforts are underway to lower the stakes between the US and Iran. The US halted its attacks to prevent a wider escalation of the conflict and to give diplomacy a chance. An American official stated that behind the scenes, diplomatic efforts are ongoing to reduce tensions in the US-Iran conflict. The US intentionally stopped operations after the strikes to prevent the conflict from spiraling and to allow time for diplomacy to move forward. He added that the US military still maintains a target list to use as strategic leverage. Qatar, Pakistan, and other regional mediators are attempting to lower tensions between the United States and Iran and revive talks on the nuclear deal. While the US President announced that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the US and Iran and the ceasefire "are over" and ordered two rounds of airstrikes, he remains focused on keeping Hormuz open and wants to prevent a full-scale war with Iran. Mediators believe that despite the recent escalation of tensions, the two sides have made progress regarding Iran's nuclear program and want to prevent the collapse of the agreement. According to sources, officials from Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia held multiple phone calls with American and Iranian officials on July 8 and 9 to calm the situation.
CNN: Israel will return some of the territory it held in Lebanon within the coming days
Israeli authorities are preparing to return control of some of the territories they hold in Lebanon to the Lebanese state in the coming days, CNN reported. The first "pilot zone," currently occupied by Israel, will be returned to Lebanese control within days. "Further pilot zones have been identified on maps," CNN reported, citing the American official. "CENTCOM (US Central Command) is cooperating with both countries to achieve progress." The US administration official added that the US "will soon begin working with international partners to help the Lebanese government effectively restore sovereign control over these zones and the entire country." It is noted that next week in Rome, Italy, closed-door talks on this matter will take place between representatives of the parties. On June 26, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement following five rounds of talks held in Washington under US auspices. According to the agreement, the Lebanese armed forces will gradually restore "effective sovereign control over the entire territory of the country." Non-governmental groups will be disarmed and their military infrastructure dismantled, which should pave the way for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.
Iranian media: Around 43 million Iranians participated in Ali Khamenei's funeral ceremonies
Between 41 and 43 million people participated in the six-day funeral ceremonies of the assassinated Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian media outlets. The Iranian Press TV characterized Khamenei's funeral as "the largest procession the world has ever witnessed." The ceremonies took place across five cities: Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala, and Mashhad. The official public ceremonies began last Saturday, when tens of thousands of Iranians gathered at the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran, where the body of Khamenei had been placed for public viewing. The ceremonies were attended by delegations of Iran's regional allies, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad from Gaza, Hezbollah from Lebanon, and the Houthis from Yemen. Khamenei was interred at the country's holiest Shiite shrine, more than four months after his death from a US-Israeli strike at his compound in central Tehran.
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