President Donald Trump has reportedly formally notified Congress that the US is again at war with Iran, promising to “hit them hard” and claiming “there’s not a damn thing they can do about it.”

In a letter dated Friday and obtained by the New York Times, Politico, and other outlets, Trump announced renewed US strikes on the Islamic Republic, with the White House arguing that the move gives the administration a fresh 60-day timeline to request congressional approval.

“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight, and we’re going to hit them hard tomorrow,” Trump said in an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday.

The US Central Command announced shortly afterward that it had “begun launching the third consecutive night of strikes,” with heavy blasts reported across multiple regions of Iran.

Trump also claimed that Washington is “taking over” the Strait of Hormuz, the key energy supply bottleneck, and would charge vessels “20% on all cargo shipped” for protection. Washington would also reinstate its blockade of Iranian ports and bar passage for vessels belonging to Iran or its customers, he added.

Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates.

• 13 July 2026

  22:43 GMT

  The UAE Defense Ministry has accused Iran of targeting two Emirati tankers with cruise missiles in Omani territorial waters in the southern Strait of Hormuz.

  The Mombasa and the Bahia sustained damage after fires broke out on board, but the blazes have since been brought under control, according to the statement. One Indian crew member aboard the Mombasa was killed and eight others were injured, including four seriously, the ministry said. 

  Abu Dhabi condemned the alleged attack as a “serious violation” of international law and said it reserved the right to respond and take measures to protect the country’s security and interests.

• 22:21 GMT

  Several explosions have been heard in Jam, a city in Iran’s southern Bushehr Province, and on Qeshm Island, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.

• 22:13 GMT

  At least three explosions were heard in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, while six were reported on Kish Island, according to Press TV.

• 21:13 GMT

  The US Central Command has announced that it has begun "launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, at the commander-in-chief’s direction.”

  “These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” it added in a post on X.

  At 4:45 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command began launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, at the Commander in Chief's direction. These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and…

  — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 13, 2026

If both Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab Strait get shut down, this will be world-shattering – Christopher Helali

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