• Mourners in Tehran carry banners calling for Trump’s death.
• Iran reappoints senior officials.
• Iran’s Ghalibaf says US memorandum is ‘difficult but possible’ to enforce.

Oil tanker hit by unknown projectile east of Oman’s Limah

A tanker has reported a fire after being hit by “an unknown projectile” off the coast of Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO).

The incident occurred 8 nautical miles east of Oman’s Limah whilst the ship was traveling southbound.

The projectile struck the port side of the tanker, the UKMTO said. No casualties or environmental impact were reported following the strike, and authorities are investigating, it added.

US officials blame Iran for attack that ignited fire on tanker off of Oman

There is a fire on board a tanker off the coast of Oman after it was hit by an “unknown projectile”.

Two US officials, speaking to the Axios news outlet, are blaming Iran for the attack. The officials said Iran’s military fired at least two missiles at commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

One of the officials said a second vessel was also hit, and that both ships suffered significant damage, but no casualties.

The attack comes days after the US and Iran exchanged tit-for-tat strikes following earlier assaults on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The earlier assaults followed the announcement of a US-backed corridor in Omani waters in a move Iran had opposed, saying it move violates the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries on June 17 to end hostilities.

Tehran maintains the agreement gives it sole responsibility to manage shipping through the critical waterway.

UKMTO did not report about a second vessel.

Iranian media say ship attacked in Hormuz after attempting to take US-backed route

The IRIB state broadcaster, citing anonymous sources, is reporting that the oil tanker was “planning to pass through the Omani route in the Strait of Hormuz with the support of the US Navy”.

The ship was “attacked after ignoring repeated warnings”.

IRIB said no Iranian official has yet confirmed or denied the report.

Iran has warned ships against transiting the Strait of Hormuz through the southern route in Oman’s waters and insists all passage through the waterway must be coordinated with its military.

Attack on tanker off of Oman could be linked to Iranian mine-clearing operations

Hossein Royvaran, a Tehran-based analyst, says it is not yet clear why the tanker off the coast of Oman was targeted, noting that Iran has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

He suggested one explanation was that the vessel had strayed into an area where Iranian teams were engaged in mine-clearing operations.

“The area near Oman is likely full of mines,” he said. “There is a possibility that these ships headed in directions where Iranian teams in that area are clearing mines, and the ships’ movement might have threatened those teams,” he said.

Royvaran said the ship’s position off the Omani coast indicated it had been attempting the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran does not endorse.

He said Tehran had mined that stretch of water while keeping shipping lanes closer to its own coast clear, allowing traffic to continue unimpeded there.

“There is no restriction in this regard and even the number of ships coming and going is large,” he said.

Gas prices rise after attack on vessel in Strait of Hormuz

European natural gas and oil prices have risen following reports that an LNG carrier was attacked near the Omani coast while exiting the Strait of Hormuz.

European benchmark natural gas prices increased more than 4.5 percent, moving to €46 ($52.5) per megawatt-hour as of 07:05 GMT, after recouping losses from the previous session.

Iranian state television, IRIB, reported that the vessel came under attack after allegedly disregarding warnings.

Oil prices also moved higher, with international benchmark Brent crude rising 1.2 percent towards $73 per barrel, its highest in a week.

Global gas demand to fall 0.5 percent this year, IEA says

Global natural gas consumption is expected to fall by 20 billion cubic metres (706 billion cubic ft) this year, ⁠mainly because higher prices are curbing demand from power generators and industry after the US-Israel war on Iran tightened supplies, the ⁠International Energy Agency (IEA) says.

It will be the third annual decline this decade after decreases in 2020 and 2022, the IEA said in its third-quarter 2026 Gas Market Report.

Gas demand in Asia fell about 1 percent year-on-year ‌in the first half of 2026 as higher prices encouraged fuel switching, particularly to coal in the power sector.

Europe’s benchmark TTF price and Asia’s Platts JKM benchmark both recorded their highest average second-quarter prices since 2022. TTF rose 32 percent year-on-year to average nearly $16 per million British thermal units (Btu) while ⁠spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices in Asia increased 45 percent to ⁠an average of $17.50 per million Btu.

The Iran war has sharply reduced LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route that in peacetime accounted for about 20 percent of ⁠global LNG supplies.

Qatar says it holds Iran ‘fully responsible’ for attack on tanker

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari has condemned the targeting of the Al Rekayat tanker on Monday night as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, al-Ansari said the attack constituted an “aggression against the security and safety of international navigation, and the security of global energy supplies”.

He added that it constitutes “a grave and explicit violation of the provisions of international law, especially the rules that guarantee freedom of maritime navigation and safe passage in international straits”.

“We demand that the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately cease all practices that harm regional security or threaten the safety of international navigation, and stop endangering global energy supplies and the capabilities of regional countries for the sake of narrow calculations, and we hold it fully legally responsible for this aggression and any damages and repercussions that may result from it,” he said.

Araghchi says negotiations ‘will not commence’ amid threats

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that negotiations on a final deal “will not commence” if threats continue, citing paragraph 13 of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US.

Araghchi added that “millions of proud Iranians” were gathering for the funerals of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Neither them nor our Brave Armed Forces are moved by any threats,” he said on X. “Honour your signature,” he added.

The comment came after US President Donald Trump said the US would either reach a deal with Iran or “finish the job”.

“We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply…. ‌They ⁠don’t have any money now. We haven’t given them any money,” he told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.

The US-Iran dispute in the Strait of Hormuz

• On June 24, Oman and the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced a new temporary corridor along the Omani coast, overseen by the US, for the evacuation of stranded vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran’s military immediately rejected the move, saying the route was announced without consultation.
• Days later, it launched attacks on two ships using the corridor, forcing a halt to the IMO evacuation plan.
• In response, the US launched attacks on Iran’s southern coast on June 26 and 27, prompting Iran to retaliate by firing missiles towards US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait.
• Iran insists that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed with the US on June 16 gives it sole responsibility for overseeing shipping in the strait.
• Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has called the Strait of Hormuz Tehran’s “greatest instrument of power”, while the Iranian military has said ships transiting the waterway must use “authorised” routes or face a “forceful response”.
• Iran is also in talks with Oman to charge fees for services in the waterway, but the US and other Gulf Arab states say they oppose any transit fees there.

At least 108 vessels crossed Strait of Hormuz between July 3 - 5

Between July 3 and 5, a total of 108 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz, according to data analyst company, Kpler.

In a post on X, the data tracking company said that traffic was “slightly weighted east to west and remained spread across predominantly Iranian and Omani routes”.

“While some crossings continued among IMO (International Maritime Organization) and Dark/Unknown routes. This shows continued operations but fragmented routing patterns and cautious behavior,” it said.

“Sanctioned vessel activity was also present, with 14 crossings recorded. While the Strait remained open, a sizeable Dark/Unknown Route share and end-June IMO-confirmed attacks suggest that security, routing and insurance risks remain elevated,” it added.

Mojtaba’s absence raises public questions

Iranian officials have attributed that absence to the continued threat of assassination.

However, the attendance of many family members, including Ali Khamenei’s sons Mostafa, Meysam and Masoud, during the week of public mourning being held for their father, as well as the presence of many of Iran’s political leadership and foreign dignitaries, has highlighted the ruling Khamenei’s absence and stoked rumors over the extent of the injuries he sustained in the attack that killed his father.

“My country is no longer the Iran of old, where the leader is publicly present,” 26-year-old Masoumeh said from Tehran, where he was attending the funeral.

“Mojtaba’s absence is irrelevant. But his presence is a sign of the country’s security, and I now have the feeling that the former security does not prevail in my country. The late supreme leader was the meaning of Iran’s power.”

Trump's latest threats against Iran

Iran’s foreign minister has warned the US that negotiations on a final deal will not begin if threats continue. His comments came hours after Trump renewed warnings of military action against Iran.

What Trump said in the oval office to reporters:

• “We’ve gotten concessions. Now they have to hold those concessions but there’ll be no nuclear weapon. We’re going to be getting, as I call it dust, the enriched material, nuclear dust I call it… We’re getting it.”
• “I went in for one reason, very strongly, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I’m not looking for regime change although this is regime change. The first regime is gone. The second regime is gone. And I think the third regime is more reasonable but we’ll find out.”
• “Our great Navy, which has done the greatest blockade anyone has ever seen, not one ship got through in two months. And then we freed up the blockade because we’re close to maybe making a deal.”
• “Look, we’re going to win one way or another. We’re either going to make a deal or we’re going to finish the job, okay? And it won’t be tough to finish the job.”
• “I’d rather make a deal because I don’t want to affect 91 million people. We can knock down their bridges in one hour. We can knock out their energy supply, all of those big plants that they built.”
• “They had a lot of money. They don’t have any money now. We haven’t given them any money. But we can knock out their electricity and power generating plants in I would say a small part of an afternoon. Every plant will be gone. And they know that.”

Iranian lawmaker warns against any unilateral action in Strait of Hormuz

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, issued the warning after reports of an attack on a tanker off the coast of Oman.

According to the IRIB state broadcaster, Boroujerdi said that “any action in the Strait of Hormuz without coordination with Iran is doomed to failure”. He insisted on Iran’s control of the waterway, saying the decision was “made at the highest levels of the system” and influenced by the US-Israel’s latest war against the country.

“The law on the management of the Strait of Hormuz will also be approved by the parliamentarians at the earliest opportunity, and the relevant bodies will be obliged to fully implement its provisions,” Boroujerdi said.

He added that Iran “pursues any action related to the Strait of Hormuz within the framework of its national interests and security”.

Iran reappoints judiciary chief during Khamenei funeral

Mohseni-Ejei was among the leading officials who were seen attending Khamenei’s funeral procession, as well as President Masoud Pezeshkian, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and IRGC commander-in-chief Ahmad Vahidi.

In his confirmation message, Mojtaba Khamenei asked Mohseni-Ejei to remain committed to the fight against corruption and embark on unspecified measures that would amount to a “judicial transformation”. He was also asked to pursue crimes by “arrogant powers” and “global aggressors”.

Mohseni-Ejei told state TV on Monday that he is committed to “peaks” of success envisioned by leaders of the Islamic Republic, and spoke about calls for revenge for the assassination of Khamenei.

This was first reported yesterday.

Global shipping industry eyes return to status quo

After more than four months of turmoil for the industry, the most enduring legacy of the war for shipping may end up being just how little it ultimately changes.

While shipping firms are expected to more explicitly factor risk into their expenses and diversify supply chains where possible in the future, the indispensable nature of seaborne trade means the industry is likely to continue much as before over the long term, analysts say.

That is likely to be especially the case for the container shipping industry, which, unlike the operators of the oil and gas tankers whose dislocation has roiled energy markets, is not heavily reliant on the Strait of Hormuz to transport its cargoes, which range from agricultural produce to apparel and consumer electronics.

Trump says ‘very disappointed’ with NATO over Iran

The US president says he was “very disappointed” by the response of NATO allies in Europe to his war with Iran after arriving in Turkiye for the alliance’s summit.

“I was very disappointed with NATO,” Trump told journalists as he met Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“We didn’t need any help at all, and in a way, I was testing people; I was testing to see whether or not they’d be there, because I’ve long said that we helped them, but I’m not sure that they’d be there for us.”

UKMTO says tanker hit by drone in Strait of Hormuz

A tanker has been struck by ⁠a drone while ⁠transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the United ‌Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) says.

The tanker is ⁠believed to have ⁠suffered “structural damage”, the UKMTO said, ⁠adding that ⁠there were ⁠no casualties or environmental impact.

Three tankers hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz

Three tankers have been struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre.

It added that the latest tanker to be hit is said to be traveling off the coast of Oman and caught fire.

Iranian state television said the LNG tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings.

Earlier, two tankers were also hit, including one that was struck by a drone.

Both of those ships sustained some damage but no injuries have been reported by the UKMTO.

Three tankers hit in the Strait of Hormuz

• Three tankers have been hit by projectiles in separate attacks in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
• One vessel caught fire after being struck off the coast of Oman, while two others sustained damage, including one reportedly hit by a drone. No injuries were reported.
• The first vessel targeted was the Qatari LNG tanker Al Rekayyat, which was struck near Limah, Oman, while transiting south toward the Gulf of Oman.
• Qatar condemned the attack as an “unacceptable attack” on international navigation and said it holds Iran “fully legally responsible”.
• Iranian state television said the LNG tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings, but did not directly claim the assault.

Qatar summons Iran envoy over attack on LNG tanker in Hormuz

Qatar has summoned Iran’s deputy ambassador and delivered a formal protest note following the targeting of a Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement posted on X, the Foreign Ministry said the incident constituted a “serious violation of international navigation safety”, a “direct threat to the security of global energy supplies” and a “clear and explicit breach of the rules of international law”.

The ministry demanded Tehran “immediately cease any practices that undermine regional security” and endanger international shipping and energy supplies.

Iran rejects Qatar’s claims on Strait of Hormuz vessel attack

Iran has rejected Qatar’s accusations over an attack on a Qatar-linked vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the claims perplexing.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Email Baghaei said Tehran remains committed to ensuring safe navigation through the strategic waterway and is fulfilling its obligations under the memorandum of understanding governing its management.

Earlier, Qatar summoned Iran’s deputy ambassador and delivered a formal protest note following what is said was the targeting of a Qatari LNG tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of targeting Saudi tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned Iran for attacking a Saudi tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz and called on Tehran to immediately cease “practices that threaten international maritime navigation and global energy supplies”.

US revokes general license authorizing sale of Iranian oil

The US Treasury Department has revoked the general license that authorized the sale of Iranian oil, according to a statement issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

“Effective July 7, 2026, General License X, dated June 21, 2026, is revoked and superseded in its entirety by General License X1,” the statement reads.

The US had partially lifted sanctions on Iranian oil exports following “encouraging” talks over ending the war, following which the US Treasury had issued a 60-day sanctions waiver in June, paving the way for the production, delivery and sale of Iranian oil to the US.

The Reuters news agency quoted unnamed US officials as saying that Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz were “wholly unacceptable to the United States and will be met with consequences”.

This comes after three tankers were reportedly attacked in the strait in the last 24 hours.

Iran urges compliance with navigation rules to ensure safe passage through Hormuz

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson says commercial vessels that use uncoordinated routes through the Strait of Hormuz or tamper with ship-tracking systems expose themselves to risks and hinder Tehran’s efforts to facilitate safe passage.

He urged regional countries and shipping companies to avoid actions that contradict the provisions of the existing memorandum of understanding governing navigation in the strait.

Israel to ‘ensure freedom of maritime trade’: Netanyahu

Netanyahu says Israel’s navy will ensure the safety of shipping lanes and the freedom of maritime trade.

Netanyahu posted the comments on his official X handle after visiting the Haifa Naval Base.

No confirmation from Iran on attacks in Hormuz strait

The latest tit-for-that-attacks show that the region remains in a very intricate situation. Iran, not only through the statements of its Foreign Ministry spokesperson, but also through its actions since the conflict escalated, has maintained that the Strait of Hormuz will remain under Iranian authority, coordinated with Oman.

This is something they continue to emphasize, saying that any passage through this strategically significant choke point should be coordinated with the Iranian side.

The extent to which the memorandum of understanding will be translated into action – not only regarding the Strait of Hormuz but also its other clauses – is becoming increasingly overshadowed by these new realities.

As for the three separate attacks that we’re looking at … frankly speaking, we do not have any official confirmation from the Iranian side regarding its involvement in those attacks.

Speaking of the latest US decision, earlier discussions had created some hope that allowing Iran to sell its oil could be viewed as a positive step forward. But this recent action is likely to further complicate the prospects for a diplomatic solution to these already complex issues.

Hormuz shipping risk raised to ‘severe’ after tankers hit

The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) has raised the threat level to transit the Strait of Hormuz to “severe” from “substantial” following the attacks on three tankers.

“The recent confirmed incidents highlight that ‌the threat environment remains heightened and warrants extreme vigilance,” JMIC said in a note.

It’s the first time the threat level has been set at “severe” status since June 15.

JMIC advises vessels to expect continued naval presence as well as congestion along transit routes.

‘US will lead negotiations to failure,’ Iran supreme leader’s adviser says

Mohsen Rezaei, adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, told Iran’s state television that US efforts to create an alternative route in the Strait of Hormuz will lead to the failure of negotiations between the two states.

⁠”It ⁠is quite clear that the ⁠United States will lead the ⁠negotiations with Iran to failure,” Rezaei said while commenting on the status of talks between Tehran and Washington.

The official, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran, was also cited by the broadcaster as pushing for “the withdrawal of the United States from the region”, and demanding retaliation against those responsible for the killing of Iran’s former leader.

".. US efforts to create an alternative route in the Strait of Hormuz .."

Details described in earlier summaries are showing that Oman is the roots of the flare-ups of the dispute, as it had offered UN's IMO last June 23rd an alternative route, which is in Oman's part of the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the suspicion rose that the US is behind Oman's move to play out via UN's IMO.

US military says it launched new strikes against Iran

The US military says its forces have started launching new strikes against Iran.

In a post on X, US Central Command (CENTCOM) says its “forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway”.

“The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire,” it added.

Strikes come after US Treasury cancelled Iranian oil sanctions waiver

The US military strikes came shortly after Washington revoked a temporary sanctions waiver for Iranian oil, raising pressure on Tehran as the two sides negotiate over a final settlement to the war.

Earlier on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department cancelled a license announced in June that had allowed Iran to produce, sell and deliver crude oil and related products through August 21.

Oil prices surge after US revokes general license for Iranian oil sales

Brent crude rose more than 3 percent on Tuesday after the US Treasury Department revoked its June 21 general license allowing for the limited sale of Iranian oil.

The decision to revoke the general license came after three tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, drawing condemnation from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

A barrel of Brent crude climbed $1.87 to $76.03 in post-settlement trade as of Tuesday evening.

Later, following the US strikes on Iran, US crude figures jumped more than 3% to $72.65.

CENTCOM gave little details on the new attacks

US Central Command has released a statement saying it carried out a series of what it called “powerful strikes” against Iranian targets.

CENTCOM gave no further details, apart from saying it was “deeply disturbed” by Iran’s ongoing attacks and what it described as repeated violations of the memorandum of understanding governing the framework for US-Iran negotiations.

The US Treasury had earlier revoked a sanctions waiver that allowed Iran to export oil under the memorandum.

The Treasury said the waiver was conditional and that Iran had not met the conditions. It said it was therefore revoking the waiver, with sanctions expected to return on July 17.

Multiple explosions heard in southern Iran

Several explosions have been heard near Sirik and Qeshm in southern Iran, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.

The exact location and source of the explosions were not immediately known.

Explosions reported near Qeshm Island, a key strategic area in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's State TV is saying that sounds of explosions have been heard at least in two locations. According to state TV, six explosions have been heard on the island of Qeshm, which is the largest island in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, with very geostrategic significance when it comes to Iran’s control and authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

The state TV also says that at least seven explosions have been heard in the areas close to Sirik Port, which is very important because it oversees the Strait of Hormuz, another strategic point from which Iran imposes its control and authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

Starting from the time after the signing of the MoU, we have been witnessing limited confrontation and escalation in this highly escalated situation at the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media report explosions around Bandar Abbas

Iranian state media are reporting explosions being heard east and west of Bandar Abbas.

Iranian media have also reported several explosions at Sirik port after saying projectiles hit commercial and fishing piers.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says US violated MoU

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has accused the US of breaching Article 10 of the MoU by canceling a temporary waiver on sanctions targeting Iranian oil sales.

In a statement, the ministry condemned the US Treasury’s move, calling it a “clear violation” of the memorandum signed on June 18.

It said the decision, taken less than 20 days after the signing of the memorandum, showed “bad faith” and proved that the US administration could not be trusted.

The ministry also accused Washington of repeatedly violating parts of the memorandum, both directly and indirectly through what it described as Israeli actions against Lebanon.

Iran emphasizes authority over Strait of Hormuz

Iran has neither denied nor confirmed accusations that it carried out recent attacks near the Strait of Hormuz.

Instead, Tehran is putting the emphasis on its control and authority over the waterway. Its Foreign Ministry spokesperson called the accusations questionable and said that, under the memorandum of understanding, Iran has the right to manage the Strait of Hormuz.

He also called on regional countries to refrain from any action that goes against the provisions of the memorandum.

Iran has stressed the need for coordination with Tehran by ships and vessels transiting through routes predefined by the Iranian side.

That is something the IRGC has said since it announced measures over the Strait of Hormuz, saying any passage should be coordinated with Iran.

Recap the latest US attacks on Iran

• CENTCOM says its forces had begun launching a series of “powerful strikes” against Iran in response to what it called Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels crewed by civilians in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iranian media are reporting several explosions in southern Iran, including near Sirik, Qeshm and Bandar Abbas.
• Iranian state media reported explosions east and west of Bandar Abbas. It also said projectiles hit a commercial pier in Sirik, a fishing pier in the nearby village of Ziyarat and seven explosions at Sirik port.
• CENTCOM said the strikes were intended to impose “heavy costs” on Iran, describing the alleged attacks as dangerous and a violation of the ceasefire.
• Iran’s Foreign Ministry has warned that Tehran will take any measure it deems necessary to protect its interests and national security.

Black smoke rises in Bandar Abbas after projectiles spark fire at fishing pier and boats

Black smoke has been seen behind a fish market in Bandar Abbas, which Iranian officials say was caused by projectiles hitting the city’s fishing pier and setting several local fishing boats on fire, according to the Fars news agency.

Bahrain condemns attacks on Saudi, Qatari tankers

Bahrain has joined the chorus of condemnations in the region, slamming what it said were Iranian attacks on Saudi and Qatari oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Manama called the incidents a “grave violation of international law” and a threat to maritime security and global energy supplies.

The Bahraini Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and urged the international community to take action to protect freedom of navigation and prevent further incidents in the strategic waterway.