Iran-US tensions after Jordan strike, Trump weighs attack

On 22 July 2026 Iran launched rockets and drones at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti air base, killing three U.S. service members after a missile struck their accommodation. Jordan’s forces intercepted several of the weapons, marking a sharp escalation in a recent wave of Iranian strikes on U.S. sites in Kuwait, Bahrain and now Jordan. The next day analyst Yari Lepre Marrani warned that President Trump’s vows of a “heavy price” for Iran could limit diplomatic options and push the confrontation toward a series of limited retaliations. On 23 July 2026 Trump announced he was considering a “massive attack” on Iran, describing it as potentially larger than any prior operation and saying Israel would join within minutes. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the proposal, while Italy’s defence minister Guido Crosetto warned that a truce was distant. U.S. Central Command later reported a thirteenth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian command centres, drone depots, surveillance sites and coastal installations in the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping. Iranian officials warned that any country assisting the United States would be held responsible and vowed retaliation. President Trump later said he was close to deciding on the massive attack, hinting at an expanded campaign beyond the earlier “Operation Epic Fury.” The air campaign continued, pushing Brent crude above $100 a barrel after Houthi‑backed attacks on Saudi tankers in the Red Sea added to market strain. U.S. officials noted rapid consumption of advanced interceptors and precision munitions, stressing stockpile pressures. Trump warned that Chinese or Russian involvement would be “very bad for them.” Diplomatic overtures, including an Iraqi cease‑fire proposal and Pakistani mediation, have so far failed to halt the fighting. The escalation raised U.S. gasoline prices and prompted Asian nations to reassess U.S.