Following thirteen consecutive nights of U.S. airstrikes against Iranian military targets, including command centers and drone facilities in cities like Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, and Qeshm, the United States paused its operations on July 26, 2026. The strikes, which began in early July, were a response to Iranian threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. During this period, oil prices surged above $100 per barrel, reflecting global concerns over energy security. Tehran had retaliated daily against neighboring Gulf states, and there were reports of an attack on an LPG tanker near the Strait, which Iranian sources attributed to U.S. forces, causing two casualties.

Simultaneously, the conflict expanded to the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels, acting as an Iranian proxy, launched attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, including Aramco warehouses in Yanbu. These attacks were intercepted by a Saudi-led coalition, with support from a Greek Patriot air defense battery stationed in the region. While President Donald Trump has kept the U.S. naval blockade active and warned of potential further "major military punishment," he signaled a preference for diplomacy. Both Tehran and Washington have noted a cessation of direct strikes for the past two nights, with Iranian officials citing this reciprocity as the reason for halting their own retaliatory operations.