US Politics Live Updates: Iran launches ‘surprise attack’ on American troops

The Revolutionary Guard has told Iranian state media that it launched missiles at US targets in Jordan, after CENTCOM early said it had intercepted a “surprise attack”.

CENTCOM did not reveal the intended targets of the attacks.

Meanwhile, in a statement reported by CNN, Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) group said its headquarters in Basra were struck, after the US and Saudi Arabia carried out “precision strikes” on militia in the country.

The PMF is a part of Iraq’s official security apparatus, made of paramilitary groups that took the fight to Islamic State in 2014.

Some of the militias under its umbrella have close ties to Iran.

The Institute for the Study of War think tank says “three competing groups” within the Iranian regime are fighting over how to pursue the ongoing conflict with the UN.

The Revolutionary Guard lead one faction which the Institute says is “currently arguing for negotiations and total control over the strait (of Hormuz)“.

This group is “likely guiding policy at this time.

But a pro-negotations and pro-compromise group headed up by senior politicians such as President Masoud Pezeshkian and on-the-ground negotiators Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is pressuring them over different means to end the war.

“This group also seeks ‘control’ of the strait, though its definition of control may be less expansive,” the Institute says.

And then there’s a third minority “ultra-hardline faction”, dubbed the Paydari Front.

This group opposes all negotiations with the US, and while a minority, has connections to influential regime figures on the Supreme National Security Council.

A pair of brief posts from Trump on Truth Social suggest he was happy enough with the outcome of his two meetings with world leaders today.

Trump hosted both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.

“Great Honour to meet with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. Many things were discussed. The meeting went very well!” Trump said.

Netanyahu’s visit was addressed with similar brevity.

“Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, along with myself and Representatives. Had a very good meeting!” Trump wrote.

“Obviously, many important subjects were discussed.”

Trump has had tensions with both men in the past, including berating Zelenskyy for insufficient gratitude the US and Netanyahu for Israeli military actions disrupting Middle East peace processes.

A senior Iranian army spokesperson says countries making use of frozen Iranian assets will themselves be frozen out of using the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump recently said on Truth Social that any vessel damaged by Iranian attacks while transiting the strait would be compensated from frozen Iranian funds overseas.

Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari has now said that any country or company which accepts such compensation would be barred from using the strait in the future.

While the US and global community continue to insist on a return to the pre-war status quo which saw the strait used as an international waterway, Iran has remained firm in its desire to maintain control of the crucial supply choke-point.

The US and Saudi Arabia joined forces to carry out a series of retaliatory strikes - in Iraq.

CENTCOM said the “precision strikes” targeted “Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.”

“US and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours,” CENTCOM said in a post.

“The unwarranted attacks against US forces were not successful.”

CENTCOM claimed that from February to April this year, there were more than 600 attempted attacks on US citizens and facilities by Iran-aligned militias in Iraq.

“The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response,” CENTCOM said.

Oil prices have once again headed north after the US reported a “surprise attack” by Iran on American military personnel.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, lifted 1.13 per cent to US$83 ($119) a barrel.

It followed a few days of declining prices after both Washington and Tehran announced a temporary halt to tit-for-tat strikes.

As well as a reported attack on US troops, Saudi Arabia said Iran was behind an earlier strike on its oil facilities.

Saudi authorities said several drops were intercepted and destroyed.

Defence ministry spokesperson Turki al Maliki claimed in a post on X that the drones had been launched from Iraqi territory.

Iran supports a number of terror and militant groups in Iraq.

Ukraine and Iran appear to have backed off from escalating hostilities after Ukraine attacked an Iranian ship, resulting in the death of a sailor on the Caspian Sea.

The long-range attack struck a ship Ukraine says was ferrying military supplies to Russia.

“Was assured by Ukrainian FM (Andrii Sybiha) that the attack on an Iranian ship was unintentional and Ukraine seeks no escalation,” Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X.

“Iran does not seek escalation either, but made clear any attack on our citizens or interests is unacceptable. There must be restitution for losses.”

Sybiha said Ukraine’s strikes were all intended to deter Russian aggression and never aimed at civilian targets.

“I emphasised the necessity to refrain from any escalatory steps, as well as to end any support for Russia’s war against Ukraine,” he said.

“This war is illegal and it must end.”

The US military says it intercepted a “surprise attack” from Iran aimed at American troops in the Middle East.

“At 5.45pm ET (7.45am AEST) today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on US forces based in the Middle East,” CENTCOM said on X.

“All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. US forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.”

Iran previously said it would refrain from launching retaliatory strikes as long as the US maintained its bombing hiatus.

It’s not yet known how the US military will respond.