• US Central Command (CENTCOM) says its forces have begun a new wave of strikes against Iran, marking the ninth consecutive night of attacks.
• Explosions are heard in five Iranian cities, including Tabriz and two key ports, shortly after CENTCOM announced its operations, according to the Tasnim news agency.
• A US service member was killed in northern Iraq on Saturday during what the military said was a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from an Iranian drone.
• US military forces redirected six commercial vessels and disabled another during an ongoing naval blockade against Iran, as regional allies encounter threats from Tehran.
• Kuwait has accused Iran of causing fires and severe damage to its critical infrastructure, prompting condemnation from Gulf states.

Vessel reported on fire off Oman’s Kumzar: UKMTO

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations says a vessel has been reported as on fire about eight nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, Oman.

UKMTO said the cause of the fire had not been verified and advised vessels in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity while authorities investigate.

Attacks on civilian infrastructure raise humanitarian risks in Gulf

The conflict appears to be shifting from purely military targets towards civilian infrastructure, and that is a very dangerous development.

We saw a similar situation in March, when the US president threatened to strike civilian facilities across Iran. Tehran responded by warning that it would retaliate against similar facilities in Gulf countries, because Iranian missiles cannot reach the US mainland. That created alarm across the region and prompted significant political pressure to prevent those threats from being carried out.

Now, the two sides appear to be drifting towards the same scenario. The US has been accused of striking civilian infrastructure in Iran, while Kuwait says Iranian attacks have hit power, oil and water facilities, including a desalination plant.

That raises the risk of a humanitarian crisis, not just a security crisis. Kuwait relies heavily on desalination for its water supply, and similar facilities are essential across the Gulf. Any sustained damage to desalination plants could severely disrupt access to drinking water for millions of people.

The consequences would therefore extend far beyond military confrontation. Destroying or disabling these facilities could create a catastrophic situation across a region where water security is already a major concern.

Oil prices spike more than 3% after US-Iran escalation

Oil prices surged by more than 3 percent in early Asian trading on Monday, driven by intensifying clashes between the US and Iran that have severely disrupted energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

The market reaction follows the US military’s ninth consecutive night of air strikes against Iranian assets in the region, launched after two US service members were killed. In retaliation, Tehran suspended its commitments under the interim peace agreement, triggering an active closure of the strategic maritime chokepoint.

Brent crude futures jumped $2.75, or 3.12 percent, to $90.85 a barrel by 22:02 GMT. Meanwhile, US. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures advanced $2.56, or 3.10 percent, to $85.05 a barrel.

With roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies suddenly bottlenecked in the Gulf, analysts warn of prolonged volatility as traders aggressively price in mounting supply risks and rising maritime insurance premiums.

US Embassy warns of possible Iranian attacks in central Manama, Bahrain

The US Embassy in Bahrain says it has information suggesting Iran may seek to target unspecified locations in central Manama.

It urged Americans to remain vigilant, follow instructions from local authorities, and immediately seek shelter if warning sirens sound or explosions are heard.

CENTCOM not backing down despite mounting pressure in US to end war

A US service member was killed on Saturday during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian one-way attack drone in northern Iraq.

In addition, another US service member was injured and is being treated. That is in addition to a set of human remains found in Jordan, where one US service member is still missing in action, which may be identified as that missing service member along with two others who were killed during an Iranian retaliatory strike on Jordan on Friday.

This brings the total to an additional three, potentially four, US soldiers killed in action as a result of this recent escalation in attacks.

CENTCOM does not appear to be backing down. It announced that it is still striking Iranian targets and enforcing the US naval blockade of Iranian imports.

Although President Donald Trump has not said anything about these latest deaths – we just saw him awarding the medal at the World Cup final match – we have heard from his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, saying that these US deaths only strengthen the military resolve of the US.

Negotiation seems a distant consideration, even as pressure back home here in the US on the Trump administration to bring this war to a swift end is only ratcheting up higher.

Trump: US hitting Iran ‘very hard’ to honor killed Americans

US President Donald Trump says that the United States is hitting Iran “very hard” to honor American service members who have been killed.

“We hit them very hard again tonight, and we did that in honour of the, probably three, it’s probably three great patriots,” Trump told reporters as he returned to Washington following the World Cup final.

“We feel very badly”, when asked about the military deaths, adding that those who died were fighting so that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon”.

"..  to honor killed Americans"

This is equal to the wording "swift punishment" expressed by CENTCOM yesterday as both clearly hallmark revenge, not retaliation as previously suggested by us.

What does international law say when a war belligerent resorts to what it calls "swift punishment"?

Under international law, revenge or retaliation is strictly prohibited in armed conflict. While a belligerent may resort to a specific "belligerent reprisal" (an otherwise illegal act in response to an adversary's violation), this is only legal if the sole aim is to force the enemy to comply with the law.

However, the latter is not the issue, as Trump himself resumed his part of Netanyahu's preemptive 12-day war from June 2025, who resumed this war on February 28th after vowing in December 2025 to attack Iran in 2026 again. Trump resumed out of impatience and frustration by ending the ceasefire with Iran, which was agreed in the MoU.

Iran’s IRGC claims two oil tankers exploded in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says two oil tankers exploded and were halted in the southern Strait of Hormuz late last night, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The IRGC stated that the vessels were attempting to transit through the strategic waterway under what it described as US coercion.

“This passage is unsafe for the transport of chemical fertilizer or even a single drop of oil and gas,” the IRGC warned, adding that the corridor would remain unsafe as long as US military operations in the region continue.

MQ-9 drone reportedly shot down over western Iran

An MQ-9 drone has reportedly been intercepted and shot down over Eslamabad-e Gharb in Iran’s western Kermanshah province, according to the Mehr news agency.

Mehr said the drone was targeted by an advanced air defense system operated by the IRGC Aerospace Force and linked to Iran’s integrated air defense network.

IRGC says struck US aircraft at Jordan’s Aqaba airport

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it launched ballistic missiles at US C-17 transport planes and P-8 aircraft at Aqaba airport in Jordan, claiming several were heavily damaged.

The IRGC also claimed that 20 hangars housing US forces in the Muwaffaq Salti/Al-Azraq airbase were destroyed, according to a statement carried by the IRIB broadcaster.

US strikes hit town in southwest Iran, causing power outages

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reports that US strikes have targeted an area in the town of Khormoj in southwestern Iran, citing a local official.

The attacks have caused power outages in parts of Khormoj, the administrative center of Dashti County in Bushehr province, according to the Tasnim report.

Dashti County, which lies along Iran’s Gulf coast near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, has been a site of previous US attacks aimed at disrupting Iranian naval and missile capabilities in the region. The area is home to military installations tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval forces.

US and Iran escalating to push the other to compromise

The US and Iran are escalating military actions in an attempt to pressure each other into compromise, according to Michael Mulroy, former US deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East.

Mulroy explained that while Washington initially focused on Iran’s ability to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, it is “now expanding to infrastructure targets specifically designed to cut the regime off economically”, a strategy he described as serving “the same purpose as the naval blockade”.

He added that the US is “trying to do everything they can to really push the regime back to the negotiating table with something that’s more acceptable to the United States”.

Mulroy warned that the conflict “looks like it’s going to escalate substantially”, pointing out that Iranian counterattacks “could cause significant issues for our Gulf allies”.

US military completes ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran

The US military says it has completed its ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that the strikes targeted “Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks”.

CENTCOM noted that the strikes concluded on July 19 at 10pm ET (02:00 GMT, July 20) and were conducted “to further diminish Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz”.

“The US military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief’s direction,” the statement added, noting that “CENTCOM forces remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready”.

US strikes target key ports and strategic areas across Iran in new wave of attacks

Iran has been witnessing yet another night of escalation, following strikes by the Americans targeting different cities.

For the first time, in the northwestern city of Tabriz, at least three sounds of explosions were reported. In the southwest, we got reports of explosions in Bushehr and Hormozgan.

We know that in Hormozgan province, two important cities, strategically speaking, Jask and Sirik, which oversee the Strait of Hormuz, witnessed another night of air strikes, as had happened over the past couple of nights.

The heaviest bombardments by the United States have been happening there over the past few nights.

In the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, attacks and air strikes have been reported in Konarak and the port city of Chabahar. The strikes also extend to Khuzestan province, where two key port cities, Mahshahr and Bandar Imam, have been targeted by US forces.

On the other hand, we know that the Iranians are also talking about their retaliatory strikes. State news agency IRNA says that a new wave of missiles was launched from Lorestan province to target the “enemy”, with reference to US military bases and other assets across the region.

Rubio urges global powers to share burden of protecting Strait of Hormuz shipping

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the regional conflict and has called on other countries to do more to protect global shipping, the AFP news agency reports.

Speaking to reporters before travelling to the Philippines, Rubio said the United States would continue taking measures to safeguard maritime traffic but argued that other governments should contribute equipment or funding to help share the burden.

Iranian attacks, security alerts reported across region

The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a vessel was on fire off the coast of Oman. There is still no information about the cause of the fire or the identity of the vessel.

Across the region, there have also been reports of Iranian attacks, particularly on Bahrain, where warning sirens sounded. The US Embassy said it had information suggesting Iran may target unspecified locations in central Manama. No such attack has been reported, but the embassy urged American citizens to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures.

In Jordan, at least four missiles were launched, with three intercepted and one falling in an open area.

Iran also says it targeted facilities linked to US forces in Kuwait, including a large ammunition depot and an air defence radar system. Kuwaiti authorities have not confirmed those claims. Instead, they say Iranian attacks have targeted civilian infrastructure, including a water desalination plant.

That has prompted condemnation in Kuwait and beyond, amid growing concern over attacks on critical water and energy facilities across the Gulf.

Iran risking relations with neighbours in ‘war of survival’, analyst says

Iran has knowingly accepted the risk of further alienating its Gulf neighbours as it continues targeting them militarily, says Sina Azodi, assistant professor of Middle East politics at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.

“There’s a risk that I believe the Iranians have accepted to take,” Azodi said.

He pointed to statements from senior Iranian officials, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, one of Iran’s chief nuclear negotiators and parliament speaker, who has described the war as “a war of survival and existence for Iran”.

“This is why they’re risking further deterioration of relations with the GCC countries, because they believe they’re fighting for survival,” Azodi said.

He added that he expects the rupture with Gulf states to be temporary. “Once this war ends and a political settlement with the United States is reached, in the medium and long term, the relationship between the GCC and Iran will improve”.

Air raid sirens sound in Bahrain

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry says warning sirens have been activated and urges people to remain calm, move to the nearest safe location and follow updates through official channels.

IRGC claims ‘US military facilities’ hit at Kuwait airbase

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it targeted “US military facilities” at the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait in the latest wave of its operations.

The IRGC claimed that a drone attack destroyed an early-warning radar system and that separate strikes hit an aviation equipment warehouse and a hangar housing US MQ-9 drones, setting several aircraft on fire, according to a statement carried by the IRIB broadcaster.

Iran will end war with US when it has “the upper hand in the field”, says foreign minister

Iran will end the war with the US when it has “the upper hand in the field”, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says in an interview with state media.

Talking to the IRNA news agency, Araghchi said the most critical decision in crisis management was identifying the precise moment to halt hostilities and begin negotiations.

“The end of the war is possible either through absolute military victory or through negotiations. The right time to negotiate is precisely when you have achieved a reliable field and strategic achievement on the military front.

“You cannot take risks with the lives of the people and the fate of the entire country. Decisions must be made based on accurate and complete calculations,” Araghchi said.

The foreign minister added that politicians must constantly weigh whether continuing the war would increase gains or impose heavier human and national costs.

“Despite some losses, we emerged as a decisive international player in this war and demonstrated the strength of the system,” he said.

US doubles down on attacks as Iran talks remain distant

US Central Command (CENTCOM) says another American service member was killed in northern Iraq on Saturday during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian one-way attack drone.

The announcement came as US authorities said human remains had been recovered in Jordan following an Iranian attack on Friday that killed two US service members and left another missing. Efforts are continuing to determine whether the remains belong to the missing soldier.

The developments have added to Washington’s justification for its continued attacks on Iran, which have now entered a ninth consecutive night. CENTCOM says the attacks are targeting Iranian military capabilities linked to threats around the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump claimed Iran’s military had been severely damaged and said Washington now controlled the strait. He also said the latest attacks were carried out in honour of the American personnel killed.

Negotiations do not appear imminent, with US officials continuing to emphasise more attacks and renewed pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme. The escalation comes more than halfway through a 60-day ceasefire period that both sides now acknowledge has effectively collapsed.

Earthquake strikes Iran’s Kermanshah province

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake has struck near Kuzaran in the western Kermanshah province at a depth of 8km (5 miles), Iran’s Irna news agency reported, citing the Iranian Seismological Center at the University of Tehran.

It said the tremor occurred at 7:13am local time (03:43 GMT), with its epicentre located 17km from Kuzaran and 65km from the provincial capital of Kermanshah.

Water, electricity, gas networks stable in quake area near Iran’s Kuzaran: State media

The country’s state media reported that relief, service and law enforcement teams had been dispatched to the earthquake-stricken area.

A spokesperson for the crisis management authority was quoted by state broadcaster IRIB as saying that the water, electricity and gas networks were stable, and relevant teams were further assessing conditions in the area.

Three injured in earthquakes near Iran’s Kuzaran: State media

A spokesperson for the country’s disaster management authority told the Mehr news agency that two earthquakes occurred five minutes apart in the region.

The official confirmed that the first occurred at 7:13am local time (03:43 GMT) at a depth of 8km, followed by a magnitude 5.7 earthquake at a depth of 13km.

Three people were wounded in the earthquakes, Mehr said.

How the past month reshaped oil prices

Brent crude has risen above $90 a barrel after two weeks in which the US-Iran confrontation spread across key shipping routes and deeper into the Gulf. The increase reflects concern that repeated attacks could keep regional energy exports below normal for longer.

The reversal began on July 7, when a Qatari LNG carrier and a Saudi-flagged crude tanker were damaged near the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude ended that session at $73.85, up 2.6 percent, as maritime authorities raised the threat level for vessels using the waterway.

By July 20, Brent crude had reached $90.79 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose to $84.68. Only four vessels crossed Hormuz on Sunday, down from eight a day earlier, reinforcing concerns about restricted energy shipments.

“Markets are once again being forced to trade two seemingly contradictory stories on the same screen,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management told AFP.

“Cooling US inflation and a softer labour market may limit a broader inflation cycle,” he said. But if Brent and WTI remain elevated, higher transport and production costs could weaken household spending and slow economic growth.

‘Another night of escalation’: US strikes new targets in Iran as regional tensions soar

It was another night of escalation between Iran and the US.

We have witnessed continued air strikes by the Americans on different cities – some of them being targeted for the first time, such as Tabriz in the northwest of the country.

Tabriz earlier witnessed three massive explosions.

We do not have confirmed information about the attacks across the country, including Tabriz.

We know that Iran is talking about its retaliatory strikes. In line with the security doctrine of the country, they say as long as US strikes continue, they are going to strike back.

The IRGC came out to confirm attacks on US military bases and assets across the region, in particular Jordan and Kuwait.

Multiple locations struck in Bushehr; scale under investigation: Iran media

The governor of the southwestern province of Bushehr says several locations in its capital, also named Bushehr, have been hit in an attack, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency.

The official added that the scope and extent of the strikes are under investigation.

US directly hits Darkhovin nuclear plant; Iran reports no radiation leak

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has condemned the attack on the Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant, saying the site was for peaceful purposes.

This is the first time since the beginning of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28 that the US has directly struck a nuclear power plant. Because it was still under construction, there was no nuclear material there, so there is no radiation, no leak of the nuclear materials.

However, it was quite important for Iran because it started to construct it in 2022, and it was aiming to finish it or to complete it by 2030.

We have seen the US attacking the vicinity of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant last week, and then also we have seen throughout the initial 38 days of the war that some of the reactors and research centres were hit by the US.

This marks the first direct attack on a nuclear power plant in 2026. While the US previously targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan in June 2025, the strike on the Darkhovin plant represents the first time a nuclear power plant itself has been hit.

But let’s keep in mind, this is also a systematic campaign to destroy critical infrastructure along Iran’s southern coast.

Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers discuss war

Badr Abdelatty and Ayman Safadi had a phone call on “ways to restore security and stability in the region”, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

During the call, Abdelatty expressed Cairo’s condemnation of the recent Iranian attacks on Jordan, confirmed Egypt’s “full solidarity” with the country, and conveyed “support for all measures it takes to maintain its security and stability and protect its sovereignty”.

The ministers also discussed international efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions, emphasising the importance of the immediate cessation of all hostilities that could expand the scope of the conflict.

One killed, several injured in US strike on Iran’s Tabriz

One person has been killed and several others wounded after the US military attacked the city in northwestern Iran.

Majid Farshi, director general of crisis management in East Azerbaijan province, told state news agency IRNA the strike in the early hours targeted a military site southwest of Tabriz.

“Rescue, security and law enforcement agencies were present at the scene in the initial moments after the incident, and necessary measures are being taken to manage the crisis, provide relief to the victims, and investigate the exact extent of this crime,” Farshi said.

The attack on Tabriz in northern Iran is the first beyond the south since the latest escalation began 10 days ago.

Ship ablaze in Strait of Hormuz after attack; crew rescued

A vessel is on fire in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by a projectile.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said, “The crew safely abandoned the vessel and have been recovered by a tug boat.”

The attack occurred 8 nautical miles (15km) northwest of Kumzar, Oman.

“The fire has not been extinguished and the vessel is currently adrift,” it said in a statement. “Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities investigate.”

Iran capable of strikes on Hormuz ‘for the foreseeable future’

US attacks on Iran are degrading Iranian capabilities to control the Strait of Hormuz, but it could take many months to fully neutralize its attacks on shipping, an analyst says.

“Iran has a huge number of missiles and especially drones that are able to strike ships in the Strait of Hormuz for the foreseeable future,” Wolfgang Pusztai, a defense analyst, said.

Tehran restarted its oil exports after signing the memorandum of understanding with the United States last month, and “this means Iran has filled up its financial resources”, he said.

‘No excuse’ for US to break agreement: Iran

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has repeated Tehran’s stance that “there is no ambiguity” in the text of the interim deal signed with the US.

“The text of the memorandum of understanding is a short text and has 14 clauses,” he told reporters in the Iranian capital.

“We had said from the very beginning that the responsibility for the future management of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran and this issue will be pursued in consultation with Oman and through dialogue with regional countries,” Baghaei added.

“The text is completely clear, and there is no excuse for America to break the treaty.”

US attacks Iran after drone blast kills American soldier in Iraq

The US has attacked Iran for a ninth consecutive night after the Central Command announced an American soldier died in northern Iraq in a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said two oil tankers “exploded” and were halted in the southern Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump said the US is hitting Iran to honour American service members who have been killed.

Kuwait says it is responding to Iranian drone attacks

The Kuwaiti army says it is responding to Iranian drone attacks, adding that loud sounds heard across the country were due to interceptions.

Gulf states intercept Iranian drones and missiles as regional attacks escalate

Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan are continuing to bear the brunt of these Iranian attacks.

In the last couple of minutes, we’ve heard from Kuwait’s army. It says it’s currently intercepting a series of drone attacks.

That comes after Bahrain’s sirens have been sounding throughout the morning. The US embassy there saying that they are warning their citizens that Iran may be planning attacks on the capital city in Manama, and its’s warning US citizens in particular to take precautionary measures.

Jordan says it has been intercepting at least three missiles, a further one landed in open ground.

Earlier the IRGC says that it had targeted an ammunitions depot and an air defense radar system in Kuwait. There has been no confirmation from Kuwait that this attack took place; instead, the country has been concentrating on recovering from a strike on a power and water desalination plant—an attack that has been condemned by countries across the region.

Iran ‘counting down the minutes’ for US ground invasion

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says the United States will face “consequences of any adventure” to seize Kharg Island in southern Iran.

He added there are people in Iran’s leadership “counting down the minutes to welcome” US forces in any ground invasion.

Kharg is the heart of Iran’s oil industry. It sits 55km (34 miles) off Iran’s coast in Bushehr province. President Trump has repeatedly threatened to seize the territory during the war.

Iran says diplomatic exchanges with US ongoing via mediators

Baghaei says messages from the US have been shared recently with Tehran through intermediaries despite ongoing fighting.

“We have been informed by mediators. We have received messages, without going into details, but the main point is that the diplomatic apparatus has been active in recent days and ideas have been conveyed to us by certain mediators,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman said at a news conference in Tehran.

The responsibility for the recent escalation lies with the US, Baghaei said.

“We have repeatedly emphasised that we have no hostility towards the countries of the region, but we expect them to do their duty and not allow attacks on Iran from their territory.”

He added: “As long as these crimes continue, our armed forces will respond to them.”

Oil prices ease after Iran says US contacts continuing through mediators

Oil prices have scaled back their gains after hitting their highest in a month after Iran said diplomatic exchanges with the US are ongoing via mediators despite renewed conflict in the Middle East.

The price of a barrel of the North Sea grade Brent for September delivery climbed by nearly 4 percent overnight to $91.42 per barrel. The price subsequently eased slightly, trading at $90.20.

Since early July, the global oil benchmark has risen by nearly 30 percent.

“Markets are once again being forced to trade two seemingly contradictory stories on the same screen,” said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management.

While the renewed rise in oil prices has injected a geopolitical risk premium into markets, he said cooling underlying US inflation and a softer labour market suggested the energy shock would not necessarily trigger a new cycle of broad-based inflation.

Crude oil prices have surged over the past week as Washington and Tehran traded fire, raising fears of a sustained disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies transited before the war.

Iran-US citizen reportedly released wasn’t a prisoner: Tehran

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Baghaei says no American mentioned by US President Trump has been released in Iran.

“The person in question was neither a prisoner nor had a case,” he told reporters in Tehran.

Trump on Wednesday welcomed what he described as the release of a US citizen detained in Iran, identified by a human rights lawyer as Dena Karari, calling it a gesture of goodwill by Tehran.

Iran pursues diplomacy and defence based on national interests: Baghaei

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson has made the remarks after being asked by reporters whether the door to talks with the US is now closed.

“I reject the duality of either war or diplomacy. Diplomacy is a tool through which we pursue our national interests, just like war,” he said.

“Just as the armed forces are steadfast in the field of defence, diplomats are also obliged to protect the country’s rights in the area of negotiations despite the enemy’s cunning and pressure.”

IRGC promises to ‘neutralize’ any US infiltration on Iranian soil ‘in an instant’

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says its ground forces rely on “up-to-date equipment, continuous training, and improving operational capacity” and are “at the highest level of readiness” against any US infiltration.

“The constant vigilance of the armed forces and their continuous readiness guarantee the country’s sustainable security, and this readiness is pursued with seriousness in all operational sectors,” an IRGC statement cited by Tasnim news agency said.

Brigadier-General Ruhollah Nouri, the IRGC’s deputy ground forces commander, said Iranian forces are prepared to “neutralize any enemy incursion immediately”.

Iran presses IAEA to condemn US attack on nuclear facility

Iran has called on the International Atomic Energy Agency to denounce US air strikes on the Darkhovin nuclear plant.

“Iran expects the IAEA board of governors and the director general to clearly state their position on this matter in condemning the US crime,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at a news conference in Tehran.

He said the UN nuclear watchdog has previously made “political statements regarding nuclear issues”.

Baghaei condemned the attack, saying the Darkhovin site was used for peaceful purposes. The facility in southwestern Iran is still under construction.

Rubio says Washington ‘always open to diplomacy’

The top US diplomat says the diplomatic path is open with Iran even as Washington intensifies its military campaign against the country.

“I think we’re always open to diplomacy. It has to be real. It has to be a deal that they’re willing to live by,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

South Korea urges citizens to leave the Middle East

Seoul’s foreign ministry has advised short-term visitors to evacuate the Middle East immediately.

“Given that most Middle Eastern countries have been under a Level 3 Travel Advisory, which recommends that travellers leave unless necessary, since March, short-term visitors are advised to depart promptly unless they have compelling reasons to remain,” Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina said.

He also called for heightened vigilance to ensure the safety of Korean vessels operating in the Red Sea during recent tensions involving Yemen’s Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

US gas prices hit an average of $4 a gallon again

US gas prices jumped to an average of $4 a gallon again on Monday as the US and Iran launched more attacks, according to motor club federation AAA.

The average price a year ago was $3.14 a gallon.

The price is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying more than $4 a gallon for a while now, while others pay less. Prices vary between states because of factors ranging from nearby supply to differing tax rates.

People around the world are also dealing with high gas prices as a result of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Gas prices first went over $4 a gallon on average at the end of March. They dipped below that in mid-June and continued to fall as crude oil prices eased when the US and Iran reached an interim deal.

Even then, President Donald Trump expressed frustration that gas prices weren’t falling as quickly as oil prices. Affordability is likely to be a key issue for voters in the US midterm elections in November.

Iran’s ‘national interests’ fully covered in deal with US, president says

President Masoud Pezeshkian says the memorandum of understanding signed with the US largely favours Iran.

“In none of the 14 clauses … have we backed down from our rights, principles, national interests, revolutionary values, and beliefs,” he said.

“A major part of the achievements has been in favour of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and practically no clause can be found that has created a unilateral benefit for the American side,” Pezeshkian said.

Hostilities resumed in the Gulf region between the United States and Iran this month despite the agreement that was signed in June.

Bahrain says Iran attacked air navigation systems

The Gulf country’s civil aviation authority says Iranian drones attacked air navigation systems but operations were unaffected, according to state news agency BNA.

Authorities began dealing with the fallout of the strike “in accordance with operational and security procedures, and took the necessary measures to ensure the continuity of navigation services and the safety of air traffic,” it quoted a statement as saying.

Flights and air traffic transiting through Bahrain are proceeding normally, it added.

Iran president says country in ‘full-scale war’ with US

President Masoud Pezeshkian says his country is engaged in a “full-scale war” with the US and Iran must accept the repercussions of the conflict.

“The reality is that today the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war. We must be realistic and accept the natural consequences of this resistance,” Pezeshkian said, according to a statement from the presidency.

US military reportedly withheld announcing dozens of troops wounded

Dozens of US military personnel were wounded and helicopters damaged during three Iranian strikes on American forces in Jordan last week, The New York Times reports.

Citing anonymous US officials, it said the Pentagon did not disclose the casualties and damage inflicted during the attacks, which came before Iran’s strike that killed two soldiers and left one missing on Friday in Jordan.

“Central Command is not required to release information about injured service members,” one unnamed US military official told the Times.

The total number of US personnel killed in the US-Israel war on Iran now stands at 17 with more than 400 wounded since the war was launched on February 28.

US identifies soldiers killed in Iran attack on Jordan

The Pentagon says Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, were killed in the Iranian strikes on Jordan on Friday.

The US service members were supporting a US mission against the armed group ISIL (ISIS), a statement said.

On Saturday, the US military’s Central Command said two soldiers were killed in Jordan while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. The US military said the total number of deaths in the US-Israeli war on Iran is now 17.

The deaths reflect the complicated reality that American soldiers don’t need to be on the ground in Iran for there to be lethal risks in a conflict that involves drones and missiles.

American forces are arrayed across the Middle East, making other nations targets of Iran as the fighting has escalated after a breakdown in talks.

Iran ‘reached the stage of mastery in recognising American games’: Ghalibaf

Tehran’s chief negotiator in the talks with the US says: “Americans keep bringing new military equipment to the region and claim they want to stop the war.”

“They have bet on our intelligence being as brief as their own IQ,” said Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also the speaker of Iran’s parliament, in a post on X.

He said Iranian officials have “reached the stage of mastery in recognizing these American games”.

“Actions must confirm claims not contradict them,” Ghalibaf said.

Mediation fails to curtail rising violence and intensified attacks

The question for mediators will be can they outpace the escalation of violence in the Strait of Hormuz and the targeting of Arab states by Iran as part of its retaliation for these renewed strikes that have been going on for more than a week now by the United States.

The answer to that is, right now, no. They are not outpacing it. The escalation is continuing forward and the sounds of missiles and drones and bombs is drowning out any voices calling for dialogue.

What we know is in the last 24 hours the Iranians have claimed attacks on US military facilities in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. Kuwait confirmed it confronted another aerial attack by Iran.

And in the Strait of Hormuz, vessels said to have experienced explosions are now being dealt with by tugboats. They’ve been disabled and are floating there.

What it tells you is how dangerous and how dynamic the activities in the Strait of Hormuz continue to be. And as long as this escalation carries on, it remains an existential crisis for the Gulf Arab countries that Iran has been targeting as part of its retaliation.

Alert sirens sound off in Bahrain

Warning sirens are blaring in the Gulf state as attacks by Iran on its neighbours with US military bases continue.

“The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” the Interior Ministry said in a state.

India advises citizens to postpone travel to Iran

The Indian embassy in Iran says travel plans should be postponed until the security situation improves after the recent escalation in the region.

It asked citizens of India to “consider temporarily exiting Iran using available flight options”.

US forces hit Iran for a ninth consecutive day on Monday as concerns grow over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran said two oil tankers “exploded” and ⁠had been immobilized.

The strikes are part of an escalating cycle of attacks between the U.S. and Iran after an interim ceasefire agreement signed a month ago unraveled, deepening a struggle for control over the Strait of Hormuz that has disrupted energy supplies and stoked fears of global inflation.

Kuwait under Iranian missile and drone attack

Kuwait’s military says air defenses are confronting a new wave of Iranian missile and drone strikes.

It condemned “the sinful Iranian aggression”.

“Everyone is kindly requested to adhere to the safety and security instructions issued by the competent authorities,” it said in a statement.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it inflicted ‘destruction’ at US facilities

Iran’s IRGC says its navy has delivered “heavy blows” to the US military with three simultaneous attacks.

In a statement carried by the IRNA news agency, it said it struck US “drone maintenance and repair sheds” at Al-Sakhir Airport in Bahrain alleging it resulted in their “destruction”.

It also attacked US Navy Task Force 59 vessel preparation sheds in Salman Port in Bahrain causing “destruction and heavy damage”, it said.

In Kuwait, the IRGC said it set fire to and “completely destroyed” Marine Special Forces sheds at the Arifjan base.

The statement went on to say that President Trump “revealed his foolishness and ignorance” by claiming that Iran had few missiles and drones left, and if the war lasts several years Iran will have enough weapons until the last day.

Iran’s interior minister leads delegation to Pakistan

Iranian Interior Minister Esmail Mokhtarian is heading a high-level delegation to neighboring Pakistan at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart.

The trip comes after Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced mediators continue to exchange proposals to get peace talks back on track after nearly two weeks of mutual bombardment.

The visit also aims to enhance border, trade, and agricultural cooperation and increase bilateral trade from $3bn to $10bn, according to Iranian officials.

Warning sirens in Bahrain

Warning sirens are blaring again in Bahrain.

“The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Sirens also sounded earlier today in Bahrain following Iranian strikes on what it said were “drone maintenance and repair sheds” at Al-Sakhir Airport.

US aerial attack hits Shiraz, says Iranian official

An attack on the Iranian city of Shiraz has been reported by the deputy governor of Iran’s Fars province.

“The US launched an aerial attack on one of the areas in Shiraz, it resulted in no casualties, and the situation is under control,” IRIB quoted the official as saying.

Two Greek-owned oil tankers attacked in Hormuz

One of two Greek-owned tankers hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz has been abandoned by its crew after fire was reported on the vessel.

The crew was rescued by a tugboat after abandoning the Maltese-flagged Kavomaleas owned by Greece’s Dynacom Tankers.

Earlier, UKMTO reported fire onboard the tanker north of Kuzmar, Oman. It had been stranded in the Arabian Gulf after spending months offshore of Saudi Arabia.

It appeared to exit the Strait of Hormuz on July 2 although its AIS tracking was turned off.

Iranian officer killed in US attack in Tabriz

Iran’s Fars news agency is reporting the killing of an Iranian military officer in a US strike in the city of Tabriz.

Fars said Mahdad Pashae was killed in an attack on Monday in an attack on the city located in Iran’s northwestern East Azerbaijan province.

One ship disabled, seven redirected: CENTCOM

The US military says it has disabled one ship and redirected seven in its continuing blockade of Iranian ports.

“As of July 20, the US military has redirected 7 commercial vessels and disabled 1 to prevent the ships from leaving or entering Iranian ports,” CENTCOM wrote on X.

Iranian media reporting industrial unit in Khomein attacked

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB is reporting of an attack on an industrial unit on the outskirts of the city of Khomein, in the country’s central Markazi province.

The province’s deputy for political and security affairs said that the “attack occurred around 7pm and did not result in any casualties”.

“The extent of any potential damage is currently being assessed,” he added.

Under international law, the US attacking Iran’s economic infrastructure is highly controversial and widely condemned by legal experts as illegal under the UN Charter and International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

Trump threatens more attacks on Iran if US soldiers killed

In a social media post, Trump says “every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over”.

“This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military,” he added.

International law does not care how force is delivered. Dropping bombs from airplanes, launching cruise missiles from warships, or conducting drone strikes constitute a "use of force" and a violation of territorial sovereignty just as much as a ground invasion.

Under international law, if an envisioned military action would be illegal, the threat to carry out that action is also illegal. A state cannot lawfully threaten a "devastating retaliation" or to "obliterate" infrastructure unless it has a valid legal justification to use force in the first place.

There are only two legal exceptions to the prohibition of force: authorization by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII, or the inherent right to individual or collective self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. For a state to legally justify air strikes or threats of further strikes as self-defense, it must meet rigorous criteria. None of these exceptions are the issue because the US is the attacker; has no authorization from the UNSC, while Iran is not attacking the territory of the United States.

Vessel struck east of UAE’s Fujairah port: UKMTO

The UK Maritime Trade Operations says a vessel has been struck 17 nautical miles east of Dibba, near the UAE’s Fujairah port.

Crew aboard the ship told UKMTO that an unknown projectile hit their ship, damaging the steering gear. All crew aboard the vessel are reportedly safe.

Iranian interior minister’s Pakistan visit marks major diplomatic move

Iranian Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, has arrived in Islamabad, where he was greeted by Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi.

During the visit, he is also expected to meet the PM and Pakistan’s military leadership.

This visit marks the first tangible diplomatic movement of any kind. But the question is whether it is happening quickly enough and whether it can outpace the escalation in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

At the moment, the mediators appear to face an uphill challenge.

Everything that has been said and happened in recent days is increasing pressure, particularly from Gulf states, for an urgent return to the negotiating table and an off-ramp from further escalation.

Jordan says 3 missiles launched from Iran intercepted

Jordan’s armed forces say three missiles launched from Iran have been intercepted, reports Jordan’s state TV.

UAE condemns Iran’s attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait

The UAE has condemned what it described as Iran’s “renewed hostile attacks” targeting Bahrain and Kuwait with missiles and drones.

In a statement, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry said the attacks constituted “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the brotherly nations and a threat to their security and stability”.

The ministry reiterated the UAE’s “full solidarity” with Bahrain and Kuwait and expressed support for “all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability”.

IRGC says US missile intercepted over Kerman

A US cruise missile has been intercepted over Rudbar-e-Jonubi, in Iran’s central Kerman province, according to an IRGC statement released to the Fars news agency.

Explosions reported near Iran’s southern city of Sirik

Iran’s Fars news agency is reporting several explosions near Sirik in the country’s eastern Hormozgan province.

The exact location and nature of these explosions is still unknown, the report added.

Explosions reported in Bandar Abbas

Iran’s state TV is reporting explosions in the city of Bandar Abbas.

Mehr news agency is reporting air defence systems being activated near the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

US military says carrying out ‘new round of strikes against Iran’

CENTCOM has announced a new round of attacks on Iran which it claims are “designed to further degrade Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz”.

Hormuz LNG supply shock has hardened into a structural shortage

Demand for energy products, specifically LNG across Asia, has not budged even as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slows to a crawl, says economist Javed Hassan.

“The dispute over Gulf tanker traffic is now showing up directly in gas prices,” Hassan said. “Dwindling tanker traffic through Hormuz is meeting demand that hasn’t moved,” he said.

“Qatar supplied a fifth of the world’s LNG before the war. That capacity has been gone for months and it isn’t coming back anytime soon. On top of that, Russia can’t fill that hole either. Sanctions and its own capacity limits have seen to that,” he said

“In 2022, the high prices themselves forced demand down, in effect bringing down prices, not because demand fell on its own. This time prices will depend on how long Qatar stays offline but the underlying process “is identical to 2022.”

“It’s not a shortage of buyers, it’s a shortage of cargoes. An LNG supply shock through the Hormuz Strait has hardened into a structural shortage,” Hassan added.

Reports of explosions on Qeshm Island

Fars news agency is now reporting a series of explosions on Qeshm Island.

Multiple explosions heard in Chahbahar

Fars news agency is reporting multiple explosions in Chahbahar in eastern Iran.

Explosion heard in Isfahan

A loud explosion has been heard in the Iranian city of Isfahan, according to the Mehr news agency.

US strikes reported across southern Iran overnight

US air strikes reported across several cities along Iran’s southern coast.

Explosions were reported on Qeshm Island, near the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in Chabahar and Konarak in Sistan-Baluchestan province. Local sources and Iranian state media said at least 14 explosions were recorded across the two southeastern cities.

Further explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas and near Sirik, both strategically important locations overlooking the strait. The latest attacks follow several nights of increasingly intensive strikes across southern Iran.

In Bushehr, local authorities said the sounds heard overnight were caused by air defence systems being activated as the US attacks continued.

Kuwait says air defenses confronting Iranian missile and drone attacks

Kuwait’s air defenses are responding to what the military described as hostile missile and drone attacks launched by Iran.

Second explosion reported in Iran’s Bandar Lengeh

A second explosion has been reported in Bandar Lengeh in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, the Tasnim news agency reports, citing local sources.

White House says strikes on Iran will continue

The US military has launched a 10th consecutive night of attacks on Iran, targeting missile and drone sites as well as other military facilities.

President Trump has increasingly framed the campaign as retaliation. In recent social media posts, he repeated an earlier warning that attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz would be met with a much stronger response. He has also vowed to avenge the deaths of three US soldiers over the weekend.

The statements appear aimed not only at setting policy but also at explaining the escalation to the American public. Trump had previously promised not to draw the US into prolonged “forever wars”, but his administration now argues that the expanding military campaign is justified.

The concerns over rising crude prices and the approaching midterm elections remain relevant but are not its immediate priority. Trump is focused on making Iran pay for what Washington considers violations of the MoU and acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz.

The White House said the strikes would continue until Trump decides otherwise, while adding that talks between Washington and Tehran remain under way.

Tanker reports being struck in Strait of Hormuz

A tanker has reported being struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency.

UKMTO said the incident occurred about 8 nautical miles (15km) northeast of Limah in Oman.

Iranian army claims strike on ‘US HIMARS systems’ in Kuwait

Iran’s army says it launched ground-to-ground missiles at “US HIMARS missile systems” stationed at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.

In a statement carried by IRIB, the army said the attack was part of the 18th phase of its “Thunder” operation and was launched in response to US strikes on Iran.

What are ‘civilian’ sites in international law?

The United States and Iran are locked in an increasingly escalatory cycle of strikes they each say are aimed at preventing the other from securing military dominance over the Strait of Hormuz.

As the US pounds southern Iran and, in recent days, other parts of the country, Tehran has hit back, striking US military bases in Gulf neighbours and Jordan.

Projectiles fired by both the US and Iran have also hit civilian infrastructure, raising questions over potential violations of international law.

Any object which is not a military objective. A civilian object must not be attacked unless it is used in a way that renders it a military objective. It may not be the target of reprisals.

Civilian infrastructure includes “all objects which are not military objectives”, the law says, and which are “normally dedicated to civilian purposes, such as a place of worship, a house, or other dwelling or a school”.

Iran’s former FM urges US and Gulf states to acknowledge Tehran’s pivotal regional role

Iran’s former foreign minister, Javad Zarif, has called on the US and Gulf Arab states to accept the fact that Iran cannot be excluded from the regional landscape.

“Iran’s ability to withstand sustained military pressure has made it harder to exclude Tehran from any future regional security architecture,” Zarif wrote in an article in Foreign Affairs magazine.

“Iranian policymakers are well within their rights to restrict the flow of traffic as long as the war persists, as long as economic coercion against Iran continues, and as long as efforts to undermine Iran’s right to safeguard its interests in the strait are being actively pursued. If it wants peace, the United States must look at the role of Israel.”