U.S. says it struck Iranian forces after deadly Jordan attacks

The U.S. said Sunday it struck Iranian forces tied to attacks in Jordan that killed two American service members and left one missing. For everyday investors, the immediate market link is oil: fighting near the Strait of Hormuz can raise fears about disruptions to energy shipments, and crude prices had already jumped Friday.

U.S. Central Command said its forces completed an eighth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets. CENTCOM said the latest operations hit Iranian coastal surveillance sites, air defense facilities, maritime assets, and storage locations for missiles and drones.

CENTCOM also said U.S. forces targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel who launched the July 17 attacks on American service members in Jordan. The IRGC is Iran’s powerful military branch that operates alongside the country’s regular armed forces.

President Donald Trump ordered new airstrikes beginning Saturday at 6 p.m. ET, according to CENTCOM. The command said the strikes were meant to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and to punish IRGC forces responsible for the Jordan attacks.

Truce under pressure

The fighting has put more strain on a memorandum of understanding signed last month by the U.S. and Iran. The interim deal was intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the conflict, according to the report.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Saturday that Iran had suspended its commitments under that agreement. He accused the U.S. of violating and suspending its own obligations, and said Iran was focused on defending itself.

Asked by a NewsNation reporter about Iran saying it would no longer follow the interim peace agreement, Trump reportedly responded, “I couldn’t care less.” In a separate NewsNation interview, Trump called the deaths of the two service members “very sad” and repeated that the U.S. would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.

Iranian state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting posted a message on X attributed to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, saying Iran had “unforgettable lessons in store” for the U.S. Khamenei also said repeated U.S. attacks showed Trump’s signature on the memorandum was “utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.” The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on those remarks.

Kuwait reports attacks

Kuwait said Sunday that its air defenses were responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks. The report followed another sign of pressure in the Gulf: the IRGC said Saturday it had blocked four vessels trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. protection.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to the deaths of the U.S. service members on X, writing, “Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.” MS Now reported that the two additional deaths bring the number of U.S. service members killed in action since the war began on Feb. 28 to 16.

Oil prices rose sharply Friday as the fighting continued. Brent crude futures for September delivery climbed 4.6% to $88.10 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for August delivery rose 4.5% to settle at $82.49. Futures are contracts tied to a commodity’s expected delivery price at a later date.

Both benchmarks reached their highest levels since mid-June. For the week, Brent and WTI each gained about 16%, with Brent on track for a third straight weekly gain and WTI set for its second.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.