Trump ordered a fourth round of Iran strikes after a Hormuz vessel attack, again defying the bicameral war-powers resolution

Early on July 11, 2026, U.S. Central Command struck roughly 140 targets in Iran — missile and drone launch sites, ammunition depots, and communications equipment near Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and other sites along the Strait of Hormuz — after Iran struck a Cyprus-flagged commercial container ship in the strait, causing significant engine-room damage and leaving one crew member missing. CENTCOM said the strikes were intended to "degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the strait." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, "Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay." Iran claimed in response to have closed the Strait of Hormuz.

Separately, President Trump posted on Truth Social that "1,000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow," should the Iranian government act on a threat to assassinate him, and warned the U.S. would "completely decimate and destroy" Iran if an assassination attempt occurred. Senior U.S. officials, including Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, were separately scheduled to meet mediators in Oman even as the strikes continued.

This is the fourth distinct round of U.S. strikes on Iran since Congress passed the first-ever bicameral War Powers Resolution in June 2026 directing the president to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran absent a declaration of war or specific congressional authorization. Prior rounds of strikes on June 10-11, June 27-28, and July 8 were each conducted after the resolution passed, with the administration maintaining the resolution carries no binding force — a position each subsequent round of strikes has contradicted.