Lead

The United States has launched new airstrikes on Iran, escalating a conflict that has seen the two countries trade blows over recent days. President Donald Trump said the interim agreement to end the war was over after Iranian strikes on US bases in the Gulf, and he vowed to "hit Iran hard tonight and tomorrow," according to reports.

Coverage Comparison

The Jerusalem Post reported that US Central Command announced on the evening of July 8 that additional strikes were being conducted against Iran "to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz." The statement said the US was holding Iran accountable for "recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews." This followed two days of Iranian attacks on shipping, which prompted the US strikes on July 7.

Iran claimed dozens of strikes, while the US said it hit 80 targets. The reports described a situation where Iran attacked ships and then targeted Gulf countries, with the US now seeking to take the initiative through new strikes.

At a NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, Trump said Iran was not being serious in the talks on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). In an interview on July 13, Trump added that the MoU was a test and Iran did not honor it.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he believed Iranian strikes on US bases in the Gulf violated the MoU, and that Iran had been mistaken to carry them out, but he added that he understood meetings as part of the 60-day ceasefire between Iran and the US would continue.

Trump also publicly called Spain a "terrible partner" in the military alliance and renewed claims on Greenland while speaking to reporters alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, also at the NATO summit, said Italy would respect NATO defense spending commitments, but would decide on timing and procedures, and prioritize Italy's interests. She said she did not regret anything she has done and would not respond directly to Trump's posts.

Key Claims

  • The US launched strikes on Iran due to Iranian attacks on shipping, according to the Jerusalem Post's reporting on the US Central Command statement.
  • Iran claimed dozens of strikes, while the US claimed it hit 80 targets.
  • Trump said the interim agreement to end the war was over after the attacks.
  • Trump said the Memorandum of Understanding was a test and Iran did not honor it.
  • Trump said Iran was not being serious in the talks on the MoU.
  • Macron said Iranian strikes on US bases in the Gulf violated the MoU.
  • Macron understood that meetings as part of the 60-day ceasefire between Iran and the US would continue.
  • Trump called Spain a "terrible partner" in the military alliance.
  • Meloni said Italy would respect NATO defense spending commitments, but decide on timing and procedures.

Perspectives

US Administration (via President Trump): Trump stated that the interim agreement is over and that the US will "hit Iran hard." He also said Iran was not serious in the talks on the Memorandum of Understanding.

France (President Emmanuel Macron): Macron said the Iranian strikes on US bases violated the Memorandum of Understanding, but he understood that the 60-day ceasefire meetings would continue.

Italy (Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni): Meloni said Italy would respect NATO defense spending commitments, but would decide on timing and procedures, and prioritize Italian interests.