West Asia war LIVE: Rubio says Iran using Hormuz as leverage, calls on other countries to 'step up'

Smoke rises from an explosion at an unknown location during what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says are strikes on Iran, in this still image taken from a handout video released on July 19, 2026. Photo: U.S. Central Command via Reuters. The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes early Monday (July 20, 2026) targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member, and Iran fired missiles towards Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighbouring Israel. This is the ninth consecutive day of the U.S.’s strike on Iran.The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Monday that ‌two oil tankers had exploded ⁠and been immobilised after attempting to transit what it ‌described as an unsafe southern route ‌through the Strait ‌of Hormuz, alleging they had ⁠been encouraged by the U.S. military to use the passage.Also read: Iran’s Supreme Leader says U.S. breaches show Trump’s signature is ‘worthless’U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday (July 19, 2026) that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the ongoing West Asia conflict, adding that other countries need to step up pressure to protect global shipping. “It’s clear that Iran, at least some people in Iran, want to control the straits and hold that as leverage against the world,” he said.Follow for more updates:July 20, 2026 08:49 U.S. launches more airstrikes against Iran after announcing another death of service memberThe United States conducted a new round of airstrikes early in the morning targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member, and Iran fired missiles towards Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighbouring Israel.Step by step, the U.S. and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month’s interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. The U.S.. military said the service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone.-AP Published - July 20, 2026 08:47 am IST