U.S. Expands Iran Strikes as Tehran Retaliates Across the Gulf

US forces stepped up attacks on Iranian sites, reportedly striking key bridges, railways, and an airport, prompting retaliatory action by Tehran, even while the White House said talks between the warring sides were still under way and that diplomacy remained a viable option. At 9:30 p.m. in Iran, "US forces began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran for the sixth consecutive night to further degrade Iranian military capabilities," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on July 16. Hours later, CENTCOM said that the mission had…