US expands attacks on Iran, which calls Strait of Hormuz a 'red line'

<p>The United States intensified its <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/13/iran-tells-us-amid-strikes-keep-your-word-or-pay-the-price/" target="_blank">strikes against Iran</a> on Friday, hitting targets farther north and firing into a ship the US accused of trying to break its <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/16/us-strikes-northern-iran-ship-disabled-trying-to-run-blockade/" target="_blank">naval blockade</a> on the Islamic Republic. Iran <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/16/us-steps-up-strikes-as-iran-threatens-to-halt-mideast-energy-exports/" target="_blank">retaliated</a> by launching missiles and drones at US allies in the region, and warned its attacks may escalate.</p> <p>The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has collapsed and the region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks by the US and Iran as they battle for control of the <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/15/why-its-so-difficult-for-us-to-fully-reopen-the-strait-of-hormuz/" target="_blank">Strait of Hormuz</a>. Iranian officials say US strikes have killed more than 35 people and wounded over 300 others.</p> <p>For the first time in this latest round of violence, strikes also reached into areas around <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/14/us-resumes-strikes-on-iran-as-tehran-hits-uae-tankers-and-bahrain/" target="_blank">Iran’s capital, Tehran</a>, showing a widening set of targets for the Americans.