Iran Update: Inland Strikes, Shipping Tensions, and Shifting US-Iraq Ties
US forces continued strikes on inland Iranian targets (notably the Artesh 388th Brigade in Iranshahr and an IRGC site in Saravan) as Iran and proxies claimed drone strikes on US bases; Tehran also attacked vessels attempting to bypass the Strait of Hormuz with shuttle-run methods, prompting shipping detours and heightened caution by Western operators. The US imposed fresh sanctions on Iran’s oil/shipping networks and weapons procurement, while US-Iraq security talks and Lebanon-Israel pilot zones point to broader efforts to curb Iranian influence. Iraqi militias face pressure to disarm amid moves to diversify oil exports via routes like Kirkuk-Baniyas, signaling a widening confrontation beyond coastal battles to economic pressure and regional realignments.
- Iran Update Special Report, July 15, 2026 Institute for the Study of War
- At War With Iran Again, Trump Finds an Opponent He Cannot Easily Dominate The New York Times
- A War Neither America Nor Iran Can Win Time Magazine
- Donald Trump’s blind alley The Economist
- Chaos and confusion bring US no closer to resolution on strait of Hormuz The Guardian
Reading Insights
0
1
14 min
vs 15 min read
96%
2,931 → 111 words
Want the full story? Read the original article
Read on Institute for the Study of War