Day 145 | Trump vows to bomb Iran infrastructure when it fires on Hormuz ships

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Read more: Day 146 | Iran warns regional security at risk as Trump threatens new strikes

Iranian state television reported that an explosion was heard in the city of Sirik in the southern province of Hormozgan.

The British government is pulling its diplomatic staff from Iran, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced Wednesday evening.

British staff have been temporarily withdrawn from the country due to the security situation, the FCDO said in a statement.

The British Embassy in Iran continues to operate remotely, it added.

US President Donald Trump said Iran is not yet prepared to reach an agreement with Washington but predicted it would be "very soon."

Speaking at an event in Georgia, Trump described the US war with Iran as a "skirmish," saying Tehran was under heavy pressure.

"I call it that because, let me tell you, they're getting hit so hard and they want to make a deal," Trump said.

"But I say they're not ready to make a deal, because every time they make a deal, they want to change it. They're not ready. They'll be ready very soon," he added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any aggression against Iran, including attacks on its infrastructure, would trigger a "powerful and decisive" response.

Writing on X, Araghchi said Iran would respond on an "eye for an eye" basis, adding that any country supporting attacks on Iran would be regarded as a legitimate target.

The warning comes as US President Donald Trump is expected to deliver remarks later, amid speculation over whether Washington could launch further military action against Iran.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard naval forces said the entrance and exit of the Strait of Hormuz are "under our full control," according to Iranian media.

The force said alternative maritime routes are "unsafe" and warned against using them, without providing further details.

Four commercial vessels changed course away from the Bab el Mandeb Strait on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media.

The Fars News Agency, citing ship-tracking data, reported that the vessels included a Chinese-owned car carrier and three tankers transporting Saudi oil to China.

The reported diversions came after Yemen's Houthi movement announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on Monday, saying it was in retaliation for an air strike on a Houthi-controlled airport in the capital, Sanaa.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that no blockade had been imposed on the strategic waterway, stating, "So far, it hasn't happened."

Bahrain’s Defence Ministry said it repelled a new wave of Iranian retaliatory attacks on Wednesday, with air defense systems intercepting and destroying multiple incoming threats.

In a statement, the ministry urged residents not to approach any debris or shrapnel resulting from the defensive operations, repeating previous warnings issued during recent attacks.

The announcement came after Iran’s military claimed it targeted Bahrain’s Isa Air Base overnight with drones.

Iran said the strikes focused on large equipment warehouses, aircraft maintenance facilities, and repair sheds at the base. Bahrain has not confirmed damage from the reported attack.

Iran’s armed forces said the country has continued expanding its missile arsenal despite intensified US attacks during the war.

Military spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said Iran manufactured missiles and attack drones throughout all phases of the US-‘Israel’ war, including after a memorandum of understanding came into effect, according to state-run Press TV.

“Missiles are moving directly from production to operational use while replenishing our stockpiles,” Shekarchi said.

He claimed the US has been unable to identify Iran’s missile production sites despite extensive intelligence operations.

Iran has maintained that it absorbed more attacks than expected, while US assessments have suggested Tehran retained a significant portion of its missile capabilities. Iranian drones and missiles have also been a focus of concern due to their relatively low production costs compared with the expense of intercepting them.

US President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that Americans are not opposed to the US war with Iran, arguing that public frustration is mainly focused on rising gasoline prices.

"Americans aren’t against the war," Trump told reporters before traveling to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to attend a ceremony honoring US service members killed in the fighting.

"A poll just came out, Americans don’t want high gasoline prices, but they’re not against the war," he added.

Trump’s comments come as recent polling indicates growing public opposition to the war. A Washington Post-Ipsos survey released last week found that 68% of Americans said the war was not "worth fighting," while 28% said it was.

The survey was among several recent polls showing a majority of Americans opposing the military campaign, which Trump launched in late February.

At least 53 people have been killed in US strikes on Iran since July 6, according to Iran’s Ministry of Health, as tensions between Tehran and Washington escalated across the region.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, citing the Health Ministry, reported that nearly 600 others have been injured in the strikes.

The escalation followed attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route that has become a central issue in negotiations between the two sides.

The Pentagon said at least three US service members were killed over the weekend in Iranian attacks across the region. 

US President Donald Trump said Iran will never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon as he spoke to reporters while traveling to a ceremony honoring US troops killed in fighting with Iran.

"Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, they won’t have a nuclear weapon," Trump said.

Trump added that honoring fallen US troops was among the most difficult duties he faces as president, describing the ceremony as "one of the hardest things to do."

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told parliament that a new round of US-mediated talks between 'Israel' and Lebanon will be held in Italy on August 4.

Iran's armed forces spokesperson said the country's production of missiles and drones continued without interruption throughout the recent war, claiming the enemy failed to achieve its objectives of destroying Iran's missile and nuclear capabilities.

The spokesperson also said the enemy was unable to gain control of the Strait of Hormuz or occupy Iran's strategic islands, including Khark Island, or seize the country's oil resources.

Reaffirming Tehran's regional policy, the spokesperson said Iran's strategy remains focused on ending the US military presence in the Middle East. He added that, once this objective is achieved, 'Israel' would not be able to continue its existence.

President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that the US will destroy “one bridge or power plant” for each ship Iran fires at in the Strait of Hormuz.

“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT,” Trump said on Truth Social.

“…including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran,” Trump added.

• Military leaders accused Iran of repeatedly targeting civilians and private property.
• Royal Field Engineering teams remain on standby to secure and dispose of debris.
• The BDF said its forces are at maximum readiness and urged the public to avoid suspicious objects.

The General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) announced that its air defense units intercepted and destroyed multiple Iranian aerial attacks targeting the Kingdom on Wednesday.

In an official statement, military commanders reported engaging the threats with firm resolve and high combat readiness, thwarting what it characterized as a continuation of Iran's systematic aggression against civilian populations.

The General Command emphasized that all military branches and specialized units remain at peak defensive alert to protect the Kingdom's sovereignty and safety.

The military condemned the deliberate deployment of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against non-military targets, classifying the actions as a direct breach of international norms.

تعلن القيادة العامة لقوة دفاع البحرين أن إيران تواصل نهجها العدائي الممنهج عبر اعتداءاتها الآثمة التي تستهدف المدنيين في مملكة البحرين.https://t.co/lNJl1XBjV3 pic.twitter.com/vMII6FKxYi

— قوة دفاع البحرين (@BDF_Bahrain) July 22, 2026

"The General Command stresses that the deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private properties constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law," the statement read.

Following the successful interceptions, military authorities urged citizens and residents to exercise extreme caution and avoid approaching or touching any unfamiliar or suspicious wreckage resulting from the attack.

The General Command confirmed that personnel from the Royal Field Engineering Unit are fully prepared and deployed to handle and neutralize all hazardous remnants safely. Leadership expressed pride in the vigilance and dedication shown by military personnel in defending the nation.

A video clip from the White House meeting yesterday between US President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has gone viral on social media, showing Vice President JD Vance's somber facial expression as Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that Iran did not want to negotiate.

Some interpreted Vance's serious demeanor as skepticism toward the claim.

Reports from US outlets throughout the war have previously noted Vance's private concerns about the Pentagon's portrayal of the conflict and potential divisions within the administration over prolonged involvement in Iran.

A recent POLITICO poll reveals a notable decline in enthusiasm among MAGA voters for the ongoing US war against Iran, with the share viewing the war as worth the economic costs dropping to roughly over a third—down from about 50 percent in May.

The findings highlight growing voter fatigue as rising energy prices and broader cost-of-living pressures weigh on households.

The poll underscores how the conflict, which began earlier in 2026 with US strikes on Iranian targets, has strained even President Donald Trump’s core base.

Economic fallout, including spikes in gas and oil prices linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, has fueled skepticism.

Many MAGA voters, traditionally focused on “America First” priorities like domestic affordability, are questioning the trade-offs.

Analysts point to sustained high energy costs and tens of billions in US military spending as key drivers.

A related Financial Times poll around the same period found 58% of voters overall deeming the war not economically worth it, with significant concern over a $67 billion congressional request to cover expenses.

“MAGA voters are feeling the pinch,” one observer noted in coverage of related surveys, with over a third of Trump 2024 voters describing the cost of living as the worst they can remember.

Broader Republican optimism on the economy has also plummeted, with shares viewing conditions as worsening rising sharply since earlier in the year.

Despite initial strong backing—often exceeding 70-80% among self-identified MAGA supporters in earlier 2026 polls for strikes— sustained costs have eroded that consensus.

Trump voters have expressed willingness to endure some pain for aligned policies, but patience appears limited as grocery, housing, and fuel bills climb.

The shift comes as Trump’s overall approval on the economy and foreign policy faces pressure ahead of midterms.

While many in the base continue to credit the administration for security gains, a growing contingent prioritizes ending the economic drag.

• US Department of War announced the presumed death of Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad following an attack in Jordan.
• Rampersad was believed killed during the July 17 strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.
• US Central Command had initially listed him as missing before updating his status.
• The soldier was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment based in Ansbach, Germany.

The Department of War has officially announced the believed death of an active-duty US Army soldier deployed in support of overseas operations in Jordan.

Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, is believed to have been killed in action on July 17, 2026, during an enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remains under active investigation.

Status updated following initial missing report

US Central Command previously announced Sgt. Rampersad as missing following the strike.

The soldier's official status has since been updated to Duty Status–Whereabouts Unknown, and military authorities now believe Sgt. Rampersad to be deceased.

Unit assignment

Sgt. Rampersad was assigned to 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command, stationed in Ansbach, Germany. Military authorities confirmed the investigation into the details of the attack remains ongoing.

The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported a US missile strike on the island of Larak in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday afternoon, saying residents heard a loud explosion there.

"At 2:48 pm, the island of Larak was targeted by an American missile," Tasnim said.

"The competent authorities are currently carrying out an investigation to determine the scale of the attack, the exact point of impact and the extent of the potential damage."