US-Iran conflict enters prolonged struggle over Strait of Hormuz
2026-07-25 11:04:12 source：CGTN
July25, 2026
Nearly two weeks of US strikes and escalating threats against Iranian infrastructure have transformed the US-Iran confrontation from a series of retaliatory exchanges into a broader campaign of pressure, raising the prospect of a prolonged conflict marked by military escalation, diplomatic maneuvering and economic strain.
The renewed conflict, which followed the collapse of a ceasefire deal earlier this month, indicates that Washington has moved beyond retaliatory operations toward a sustained campaign aimed at systematically degrading Iran's ability to challenge shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
US forces have targeted command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance systems and other military assets over nearly two weeks of continuous operations, reflecting what appears to be a deliberate effort to erode Tehran's maritime denial capabilities rather than deliver a single decisive blow.
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