U.S. strikes Iranian targets after deadly attacks on troops in Jordan
CENTCOM said it hit IRGC forces tied to attacks that killed two U.S. service members, as oil prices rose on renewed Middle East fighting.
By Marcus V. Thorne · Markets Editor
· 3 min read
The U.S. military said Sunday it struck Iranian forces involved in attacks on Jordan that killed two American service members and left one missing, adding to a widening exchange of fire in the region. The renewed fighting has put fresh pressure on energy markets, with Brent crude futures for September delivery up 4.6% Friday at $88.10 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate for August delivery up 4.5% at $82.49, according to CNBC market data.
U.S. Central Command said on X that its forces had completed an eighth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets. CENTCOM said the operation hit Iranian coastal surveillance and air-defense sites, maritime assets, and missile and drone storage facilities, describing the aim as reducing Iran’s military capacity.
CENTCOM also said U.S. forces targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps units that launched attacks against American service members in Jordan on July 17. The command said President Donald Trump ordered the latest airstrikes to begin Saturday at 6 p.m. ET, with the stated goals of limiting Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and responding to the IRGC attacks on U.S. personnel.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime chokepoint linking the Gulf with global energy markets. Disruptions there can affect crude supply expectations because a substantial volume of regional oil exports moves through the waterway. CNBC reported that Brent and WTI each gained about 16% for the week, with Brent heading for a third weekly advance and WTI for a second.
Interim accord under strain
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Saturday that Tehran had suspended its commitments under a memorandum of understanding signed with the U.S. last month. He said the U.S. had violated and suspended its obligations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, and that Iran was no longer implementing its own commitments while defending the country.
The interim agreement was intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stop the conflict, according to CNBC. The latest fighting has further weakened that arrangement, with both sides carrying out targeted strikes in the region.
Asked by a NewsNation reporter about Iran’s statement that it would no longer comply with the interim peace agreement, Trump said, “I couldn’t care less.” In a separate telephone interview with NewsNation, Trump described the deaths of the two service members as “very sad” and said the U.S. was “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to the deaths on X, writing: “Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.” MS Now reported that the two latest fatalities in Jordan bring the total number of U.S. service members killed in action since the war began on Feb. 28 to 16.
Kuwait reports incoming fire
Kuwait said Sunday that its air defenses were responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks. The report followed an IRGC statement Saturday saying it had blocked four vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. protection.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said, in a message carried by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on X, that Iran had “unforgettable lessons in store” for the U.S. He also said repeated American attacks had shown that Trump’s signature on the memorandum of understanding was “utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.”
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on Khamenei’s remarks. Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to CNBC’s reporting.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.
