U.S. Conducts Third Round of Strikes on Iran Amid Back-Channel Negotiations

The United States military concluded a third wave of airstrikes against Iranian targets on July 12, 2026, in response to Tehran's attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on commercial shipping. President Trump has officially classified these maritime strikes as acts of terrorism. Despite the intensity of the military campaign—which has targeted approximately 250 sites over the past week—the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes that Iran's operational capacity to threaten the strait remains largely intact. Simultaneously, a complex diplomatic "dual-track" process is unfolding in Oman. Iranian pragmatic officials have privately reached out to Trump administration advisers, claiming that recent escalations were the work of an "errant" hardline sect acting without full central authorization. However, the White House is reportedly maintaining a firm line, demanding a public acknowledgment of the violation before a ceasefire can be finalized. The U.S. negotiation team in Oman currently includes Vice President JD Vance, Jared Kushner, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with mediation support from Qatar and Pakistan. The conflict highlights a brewing power struggle within the Iranian regime. While negotiators seek to de-escalate to avoid further U.S. strikes, top IRGC officers and state media have intensified their rhetoric, declaring control over the Strait of Hormuz a "critical strategic priority." This internal split complicates the prospects for a lasting diplomatic resolution as both nations navigate a high-stakes environment of active combat and back-channel communication.