US-Iran Conflict · Full chronicle and history

The US military raided an Iranian island on November 3, intending to force Iran to sign an agreement before January.

According to Al Jazeera, the Iranian Navy stated that the US military carried out an airstrike on the morning of October 20, 2026, against the Konarak naval base in Sistan and Baluchestan Province in southeastern Iran. The US military fired two light projectiles at a 35 mm anti-aircraft gun at the base, and the attack left two Iranian soldiers injured.

According to X user @clashreport, a spokesman for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated on October 19, 2026, that from a technical and military perspective, the United States lacks the ability to launch another conflict. However, he also warned that as the U.S. election approaches, the American side might attempt to manufacture a military success for political purposes, and that Iran remains vigilant and will not dismiss this.

According to @clashreport, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly criticized the United States, saying that the US is making an even bigger mistake by attempting to characterize the current conflict as a "clash of civilizations." Araghchi believes this is the US seeking excuses deep in history in order to escape a predicament of its own making.

According to clashreport, U.S. Vice President Vance said regarding the situation involving Iran that the U.S. military had made major mistakes in the past regarding where troops are deployed and has recognized that it can do better, and that changes have already been made. Vance said that because military security is involved, he would not disclose specific details, so as not to let the Iranian side obtain them.

According to estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the U.S. military expended approximately 1,060 to 1,500 modern Patriot interceptors during roughly seven months of conflict with Iran. This expenditure is equivalent to the total number of Patriot interceptors the U.S. military procured over about 19 years, leaving only about one-third of the pre-war stockpile of roughly 2,200 to 2,330 interceptors.

During a program on Iranian state media, political analyst Khalatian claimed that China had provided Iran with satellite images behind the scenes to assist in strikes against the U.S. military, but cut off the support after the matter was exposed in the media.

On October 3, during the Iranian state broadcaster's program "Iran Time," political analyst Mehdi Khalatian claimed that China had once provided Iran with satellite images behind the scenes to help strike U.S. forces, and that the cooperation was halted after The Wall Street Journal exposed it. The newspaper had previously cited U.S. officials as saying that the images were related to the attack on a Jordanian base on July 17 that killed 3 U.S. troops.

As of August 24, US Central Command has ordered 71 commercial vessels to change course, disabled 3 vessels, and boarded 2 vessels for inspection to ensure the enforcement of the maritime blockade against Iran.

US President Trump said on September 19 that the US-Iran conflict is entering a critical point, that he will make a major decision on whether to launch large-scale military action to completely eliminate the Iranian regime, and that he expects to meet with Gulf state leaders during the UN General Assembly next week to discuss action against Iran.

China began enforcing the 19-article Regulations on Exit and Entry Administration promulgated on July 31 starting September 15, expanding the scope of those barred from leaving the country from specific groups to all departing passengers at every port of exit, particularly affecting AI researchers and entrepreneurs, drawing widespread attention and concern at home and abroad. On September 10, officials issued a clarification saying the new rules mainly target cross-border gambling, telecom fraud, and the illicit transfer of technology. On the same day, the human rights organization Safeguard Defenders released a report noting an explosive growth in China's exit bans, with nearly 200,000 mentions of exit restrictions in Supreme People's Court rulings in 2025.

On September 9, 2026, hit by the escalation of the US-Iran conflict, international oil prices once again surged past $100 a barrel, the average US gasoline price rose 7 cents overnight to $4.22 a gallon, European natural gas prices rose in step, and markets worried that disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would further hit global energy supplies.

In early September 2026, the US military said it had destroyed about 10 Iranian oil tankers over the past week. On September 9, Trump said these attacks were launched by the United States and that there would be more such operations.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it hit two U.S. Navy destroyers in the Middle East, but U.S. Central Command debunked the claim, saying no U.S. Navy vessel was hit and that all of the IRGC's attacks failed; the strike was a response to Iran's failed attack on U.S. forces.

The U.S. military announced that it had crippled or destroyed five Iranian oil tankers and released strike footage.此前, Iranian opposition groups said that oil tankers near Iran's Kharg Island and the port of Jask had been hit in new strikes.

A report submitted to Congress this week by the Pentagon Office of the Inspector General estimates that Operation Fury, launched on February 28, cost $33.4 billion through June 29, with nearly 67% spent on munitions, and says munitions consumption has caused shortages in strategic stockpiles. Senior Pentagon officials and chief spokesperson Pannell disputed the conclusion, saying US military munitions have not been exhausted.

A report released this week by the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cost of the conflict with Iran reached $38 billion as of August 1, and warns that rebuilding part of the interceptor stockpile could take at least 5 years.

In early September 2026, news circulated online that Iran's Qeshm Island had been bombed, but no journalists have yet gone to verify the specifics, and the details of the incident remain unclear.

U.S. Central Command says U.S. forces struck Iranian rocket launchers near Larak Island to prevent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. military launched fierce strikes on Iran, with targets including command centers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as missile and drone facilities.

On the night of July 23, US Central Command launched airstrikes against targets including Iranian military command centers and drone storage facilities, while Tehran and its militia allies fired missiles and drones at four regional countries.

U.S. Central Command stated that U.S. forces struck Tehran's military operations centers, maritime operations facilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure.

The US military launched a new round of airstrikes against Iran in the early hours of July 21, hitting Iran's military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems.

U.S. Central Command announced that the U.S. military launched precision-guided weapons at dozens of Iranian military targets using fighter jets, drones, and warships.

In July 2026, Iran attacked a US military base in Jordan, resulting in the deaths of 3 US soldiers. US officials stated that prior to the attack, Iran obtained high-resolution satellite images provided by Chinese entities to observe the US military base system, and acquired related images after the attack to assess the strike effectiveness. The US side subsequently investigated whether Chinese companies also assisted Iran in tracking US warships, while the Chinese side denied the relevant accusations.

On July 17, Iran launched an attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, killing 3 US soldiers and wounding 4 others. It was the first US casualty since the ceasefire in April, showing a significant improvement in the precision of Iran's strikes.

US Central Command said US forces struck an Iranian command center, air defense facilities, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities, including targets near the port of Bandar Abbas.

U.S. Central Command said Iranian forces launched missiles and drones at countries in the region over the past 7 days, attacking civilians and 7 commercial ships, killing, injuring, or leaving more than 10 crew members dead, missing, or wounded.

US Central Command announced that US forces struck Iranian military targets in Bushehr, Bandar Abbas and other locations, hitting air defense systems, missile and drone facilities, and maritime capabilities.

As tensions between the US and Iran escalate, Tehran held a funeral for the late Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei. China announced that Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress He Wei would attend on behalf of China.

During the NATO summit in Turkey, U.S. President Trump held a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Erdogan to discuss the sale of F-35 fighter jets and Turkey's role in ending the U.S.-Iran conflict.

The U.S. military struck Iranian military command centers, air defense facilities, coastal surveillance facilities, naval forces, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks for the ninth consecutive night.

The U.S. military says Iranian forces have attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz over the past 3 months, with at least 3 ships struck in that single week.

The US stated that Iran's attacks on merchant ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz violated the memorandum of understanding reached on June 18, and conducted retaliatory strikes against Iranian command and control centers, radar, and other military facilities.

As market expectations grow that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open, US oil prices fell below $70 per barrel on Wednesday, while Brent crude dropped 4.6% to $73.5 per barrel, both hitting their lowest levels since the US-Iran conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi traveled to Beijing to meet with Wang Yi, with China and Iran communicating on issues including the US-Iran conflict and energy trade, while the Wall Street Journal reported that China is selling materials needed for missile programs to Tehran.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent said President Trump will use his trip to Beijing to exchange views on the US-Iran conflict, accusing China of buying 90% of Iran's energy and financing state sponsors of terrorism.

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched joint airstrikes against Iran. Iran's Revolutionary Guard subsequently announced a ban on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude oil prices surpassed $100 in March, at one point rising to $126.

The United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran, which Trump subsequently defended.

In late February 2026, the United States and Israel launched “Operation Epic Fury,” further devastating Iran’s nuclear facilities and military-industrial system, sharply reducing Iran’s value as an anti-U.S. strategic pivot.

On January 8, 2020, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles at Ain al-Asad and other air bases in Iraq where U.S. troops were stationed, in retaliation for the killing of Qasem Soleimani; Trump subsequently said that Iran appeared to be standing down.

On January 3, 2020, the U.S. military killed Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Quds Force, in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport; nine people died, including Iraqi militia deputy commander al-Muhandis, who was in the same vehicle.