The Lingering Questions About Recent Iran Strikes: Unexplained airstrikes hit southern Iran on Thursday, July 9, only hours after the United States had announced it had completed a new, major military operation targeting 90 Iranian military sites. When additional explosions came, many analysts assumed it was a continuation of U.S. strikes – but those reports, which span multiple provinces, have not been claimed by any country so far. The strikes occurred as funeral ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued.
The confirmed U.S. strikes were a response to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran insists that it retained control over the waterway and that, despite June’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) opening the strait to all traffic for 60 days, the regime believed it had the authority to dictate which shipping lanes vessels used. In the wake of the recent exchange of fire between the U.S., Iran, and various Gulf states, President Donald Trump has declared the MOU “over.”
An F-35B Lightning II taxis on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli (LHA 7) during flight operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 4, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo)
An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah takes off from the Air Dominance Center during Sentry Savannah on May 11, 2022. Sentry Savannah is the Air National Guard’s largest air-to-air, joint aerial combat exercise for fourth- and fifth- generation fighters, which tests the capabilities of our warfighters in a simulated environment and trains the next generation of fighter pilots for tomorrow’s fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Erica Webster)
Explosions Continue After U.S. Says Mission Complete
On July 10, the Associated Press reported that additional “unclaimed airstrikes” hit Iran after the U.S. announced its operations were over, and that they occurred just as the country prepared to bury the late supreme leader. According to the report, Tehran still has not blamed any country directly for the strikes, but one lawmaker alleged that the United Arab Emirates may be providing support for the U.S. military campaign against Iran.
Various Gulf Arab states, which have also engaged in strikes against Iran this week, have not claimed responsibility for the additional strikes as of Friday morning.
What CENTCOM Said
The U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Thursday at roughly 6:30 am local time in Iran that it had concluded its strikes and that 90 targets had been hit. But shortly after the announcement, local and state Iranian media reported that airstrikes and explosions had rocked the cities of Ahvaz and Chabahar, as well as the Bushehr and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces.
When asked for comment on the additional strikes, CENTCOM did not respond. It could suggest that the United States conducted additional airstrikes, though it is unclear why CENTCOM would be reluctant to disclose them.
If the strikes were conducted by Gulf states, however, the lack of transparency about who is responsible may not be all that surprising. Tehran has threatened to respond to all Gulf states engaged in strikes against Iran or even providing support for U.S. forces as they prepare to ramp up the military pressure against the regime all over again.
If Gulf states are capable of launching strikes and forcing Tehran back to the negotiating table, or indeed degrading its military capabilities even further, then maintaining a shroud of secrecy about the strikes’ origins could deter retaliation.
Iran’s Suspicions
Although Tehran has not formally blamed another country for the strikes, some senior Iranian officials have expressed their belief that they originate from neighboring Gulf states.
Esmail Kousari, a member of the Iranian parliament who sits on the parliament’s national security committee and served as a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), speculated that the United Arab Emirates was playing a “behind-the-scenes” role in supporting U.S. operations. Kousari was quoted by Iranian state media as insisting that the United States would “pay the price for its cooperation with the United States.”
Israel Signals It Is Ready to Return
The strikes are not believed to have been launched by Israel – but Jerusalem has made it clear that the country is ready to resume military operations against Iran if it poses an imminent threat to the country.
Following a call with President Donald Trump on Thursday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received an update on American activity in the Gulf. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also warned that Israel’s campaign against Iran is not yet over
“The army is ready and on alert for a resumption of fighting, to regain air superiority and strike again,” Katz said. “If we have to go back, we will go back with even greater force.”
The comment might have been problematic for Washington when the MOU was still in effect – but today, it likely comes as more welcome news.
As for the U.S., Washington so far appears intent on pressuring Iran to return to the negotiating table with its strikes, rather than working toward regime change. On Friday, President Trump confirmed that the United States had agreed to resume negotiations after Tehran requested further talks.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, producing and editing analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
