$BTC July 10 (Beijing time) Latest authoritative news on the Iran–Middle East situation

I. Current status of military clashes

1. US military developments
The White House and the Pentagon announced in the early hours of the 10th: they are launching the strongest round of airstrikes since the current conflict began. The strikes focus on Iran’s missile launch sites, drone factories, and naval facilities along the Persian Gulf coast. The US Central Command confirmed that over July 7–9, the US carried out a total of strikes against 170 targets inside Iran, including air defense radars, anti-ship missiles, speedboats, eastern railway bridge structures, and perimeter security facilities around the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Trump said publicly: the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US has completely failed; if Iran continues to attack merchant ships and US forces, the scope of strikes will be further expanded.

2. Iran’s retaliatory actions (evening of July 9 – early hours of July 10)
- In the afternoon of the 9th, the Revolutionary Guard launched 10 ballistic missiles, striking the US Al-Azraq air force base in Jordan and the US Western Asia Command Center. At the same time, it deployed drones and missiles to attack 2 US bases in Kuwait and 2 US bases in Bahrain (the US Fifth Fleet headquarters is located in Bahrain). Iranian officials said this is only the first stage of retaliation; if the US bombs Iranian territory again, Iran will strike all US bases in the Middle East and fully blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
- In southern Iran, explosions were heard one after another late on the evening of the 9th in Bushehr and in the Sistan–Baluchestan province. Local officials confirmed that a naval base was attacked by enemy fighter jets. Bushehr’s air defense system intercepted incoming US munitions, and there have been no reports of civilian casualties.
- An Iranian senior consul stated to the outside world: Iran originally exercised restraint, but the US continues to provoke; going forward, Iran will take resolute retaliatory measures on the battlefield.

II. Incidents inside Iran

1. In Mashhad, a holy city in northeastern Iran (just after Khamenei’s funeral), a shooting incident occurred in the early hours of July 7–10, resulting in 2 deaths. The identity of the perpetrator has not yet been determined, and security forces have been fully strengthened.
2. Maritime situation: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy has tightened control of the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that all transiting oil tankers must be registered in advance. British and US warships have increased patrols near the strait; the strait’s shipping throughput has fallen sharply, and international crude oil prices continue to rise.

III. Diplomatic front

1. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi placed a call to the Chief of Staff of Pakistan’s Army, accusing the US of launching aggression and seeking understanding from neighboring Arab countries; Iranian officials also accused the US of bombing civilian bridges, saying it constitutes a war crime.
2. Gulf states are collectively concerned that the situation could spiral out of control; air defense alerts have been sounded one after another in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Regional countries have been forced to take sides, and diplomatic pressure has surged.

IV. Forward-looking market expectations

1. Short term: In the next 24–48 hours, the situation will remain highly risky. There is a high probability that the US will continue to launch new rounds of airstrikes, and Iran may fire missiles again at any time to retaliate against the US.
2. Energy front: If Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, the global crude oil supply will be severely damaged, and oil prices will most likely surge dramatically.

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