• The US is bombing Iran for a 10th consecutive night, with explosions reported near Sirik and in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Chabahar and Konarak.
• US President Donald Trump warns Iran it will pay “many times over” for the deaths of American soldiers, after a week in which at least three US personnel were killed.
• Iran continues retaliatory attacks across the Gulf, with the Iranian army saying it targeted US missile systems at Kuwait’s Camp Arifjan in recent hours. Another tanker is also hit off the coast of Oman.
• Qatar has sent letters to both the UN and the Security Council, condemning recent Iranian attacks on the country and calling for compensation from Tehran for all damages caused.

US forces continue to target Iran’s southern coast

It has been another night of escalation, with US air strikes continuing to target Iran’s southern coastal cities and islands.

Explosions were reported on Qeshm Island, which is the largest in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in the important port cities of Bandar Abbas and Bandar Lengeh.

In Sirik, which oversees the strait and is strategically vital, explosions were again reported, continuing last night’s pattern. Further explosions were reported in the southeastern Sistan province’s cities of Konarak and Chabahar, and in southwestern Shiraz. In Bushehr, home to a nuclear power plant, sounds of air defense activation were reported.

For its part, the Iranian side is talking about retaliatory strikes. Iran’s ground forces say they targeted US HIMARS missile systems at Kuwait’s Camp Arifjan, part of what Tehran describes as an ongoing campaign of strikes on US bases and assets across the region.

And last but not least, Iran’s ambassador to the UN sent a letter condemning the recent attack on one of the country’s nuclear facilities under construction, calling on the international community to respond.

Diplomacy ‘takes a back seat’ as US prioritizes military strikes on Iran

There are signs of diplomacy, but they are taking a back seat to the US’s primary objective. And according to the White House, that objective is making Iran pay – not only for what it calls acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, but also violations of the memorandum of understanding (signed last month).

The US also says that Iran will pay for the deaths of the three US soldiers who were killed over the weekend.

In a statement to Al Jazeera, the White House said the strikes will continue until the president decides otherwise. But it ended that statement by saying that diplomatic talks between the two nations are ongoing.

Earlier on Monday, the US president laid out a policy of retaliation in a post on his Truth Social platform. He said the US will hit any target in Iran 20 times harder, and that retaliation for the deaths of American service members will be many times over.

The president is making the case that while diplomacy may be happening, the priority right now is security operations, specifically combat operations in Iran.

Explosions heard in Iran’s Shiraz

Explosions were heard in the southwestern city of Shiraz at about 1am local time (21:30 GMT), Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster reports.

It said a location in the east of the city and another in the west “were attacked by the enemy”.

IRIB also cited the deputy governor of Isfahan province as saying there was no “enemy aggression or explosions” in the city of Isfahan or the wider province, denying an earlier report from the semi-official Mehr news agency.

The governor of Bushehr, meanwhile, told IRIB that the sounds of explosions in the province were “related to the activity of defense systems”.

Qatar seeks compensation for Iranian attacks

Qatar has sent letters to the UN Security Council and the UN secretary-general, detailing what it describes as repeated Iranian attacks on the country.

The letters cite the July 7 attack on the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat and a missile attack on Qatar on July 12, which Doha says its armed forces repelled.

Qatar says the attacks violated international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It is seeking compensation for the resulting damage and says it reserves the right to respond.

The letters come as tensions continue in the Strait of Hormuz. UK Maritime Trade Operations reported another incident involving a vessel near Oman, the second such case in about 24 hours.

The vessel was travelling close to what is known as the southern route. Iran says ships using that route without coordinating with Tehran violate the memorandum of understanding governing traffic through the strait.

Tehran accuses the United States and other countries of promoting the route to weaken Iranian control over shipping, keeping the waterway at the centre of the escalating confrontation.

So, Qatar is in no position to lodge a complaint and to demand compensation, notably to the wrong party.

IRGC reports ‘massive fires’ on two oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says “massive fires” have broken out on two oil tankers that attempted to “pass through the unsafe southern route in the Strait of Hormuz” following an explosion.

In a statement carried by the IRIB state broadcaster, the IRGC said rescue teams were evacuating the crews of the vessels.

It again warned shipping companies to safeguard the health of their crews, not to trust “false information from the US military”, and avoid routes it described as dangerous.

“It is obvious that as long as America’s evils continue in the region, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed, and not even a drop of oil, gas, or a package of chemical fertiliser will be exported from the region,” it added.

IRGC claims attack on US air defence systems in Bahrain

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it destroyed a US air defence system and radar in Bahrain’s Muharraq area during its latest military operation.

In a statement carried by the IRIB broadcaster, the IRGC also claimed that a a coordinated missile and drone attack destroyed a US Patriot air defence system in Bahrain’s Al-Riffa.

The IRGC said the strikes were intended to clear the way for further operations.

US says latest wave of strikes on Iran now over

US Central Command says it has completed another round of strikes against Iran as part of the campaign to degrade the country’s “ability to continue attacking commercial vessels flowing through the Strait of Hormuz”.

It said in a statement that US forces targeted “Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems” in the latest wave.

CENTCOM added that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains ongoing. Since early May, US forces “have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil”, it said.

“American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly transit the strait,” it added.

US issues ‘worldwide caution’ for Americans amid tensions in Middle East

The US State Department has advised Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution, citing heightened tensions in the Middle East and the risk of further escalation.

Americans currently in the Middle East, in particular, “should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions”, it said.

It also urged Americans outside the Middle East to reconsider travel to or through the region.

The department warned that Iran and groups supporting Tehran could target US interests, diplomatic facilities or locations associated with Americans overseas.

Iran claims attack on US military assets in Kuwait

The IRGC says it targeted and destroyed several US military assets in Kuwait during a recent strike.

In a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC said the strikes hit a long-range radar site, a telecommunications centre, satellite receiving systems, and a missile defense radar of the US military in Kuwait.

The group also claimed to have struck an MQ-9 drone hangar at the Ali Al Salem airbase, destroying or severely damaging several unmanned aircraft.

Top US Democrat demands end to Iran war, pledges new Senate vote

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for an end to the war on Iran, saying Democrats will force Republicans to vote on halting military operations.

“Every second Trump prolongs his war in Iran is another second our service members remain in danger,” Schumer wrote on X. Senate Democrats will “force Senate Republicans to take another vote to end this war and bring our troops home”, he said.

“Enough is enough. End this war,” he added.

The US House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution on June 3, directing the president to halt hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by Congress.

The concurrent resolution passed the Senate on June 24 when four Republicans voted with Democrats to approve the measure. It marked the 10th time the Senate had voted on the measure.

 

Crew abandons tanker in Strait of Hormuz after attack

The UK Maritime Operations (UKMTO) agency says it has received multiple reports that a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Limah, has been struck by an unknown projectile.

“The CSO of the tanker has reported to UKMTO that the crew have abandoned the vessel and are currently embarked in a lifeboat”, it added.

The report came shortly after Iran’s IRGC said “massive fires” had broken out on two oil tankers that attempted to “pass through the unsafe southern route in the Strait of Hormuz” following an explosion.

IRGC claims more attacks on US military assets in Kuwait

The IRGC has issued a second statement claiming additional strikes against US military targets in Kuwait.

In a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, the IRGC claimed its forces hit and destroyed an early warning radar, a missile defence radar system, an FPS-117 radar, a Patriot defence system, and an air defence satellite communication system at the Ahmed Al-Jaber base.

The group added that the operation was intended to clear radar coverage in the region ahead of further missile and drone strikes.

Oil prices ease amid reports of US-Iran mediation efforts

Oil prices have dipped following reports of mediation efforts between the US and Iran, even as the two launched new strikes and Yemen’s Houthis threatened to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters.

Brent crude futures fell 35 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $88.87 a barrel as of 00:52 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for September delivery held steady at $82.47 a barrel.

Explosions heard in Iran’s Abdanan

The Mehr News Agency says several explosions have been heard this morning in the city of Abdanan in Iran’s western Ilam province.

It cited Abdanan Governor Behzad Nourmohammadi.

The governor told Mehr that a facility in the Dinar Kuh area was targeted.

“Fortunately, this incident did not result in any casualties, and the responsible agencies are investigating the dimensions of the issue,” he said.

Iran insists vessels must coordinate with it before transiting Hormuz Strait

The latest statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps came after two vessels were reportedly hit by explosions while trying to use a route different from the one designated by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran says alternative routes remain dangerous because of mines and other hazards.

Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz is increasingly clear: Tehran says control over the waterway remains in Iranian hands and that vessels must coordinate with it before attempting to transit.

Iranian officials also say consultations are under way with Oman over a possible bilateral arrangement for managing the strait. But they continue to insist that ships must follow a route close to the Iranian coast.

Several vessels and oil tankers have encountered similar incidents in recent nights.

Iran maintains that the strait is closed, contradicting the US position. Tehran says the closure followed Washington’s failure to honor the Memorandum of Understanding intended to address shipping through the waterway and wider tensions.

The dispute is also tied to the US naval blockade of Iran and the broader confrontation between Tehran and Washington.

Iran’s army claims further attacks on Kuwait

Iran’s army claims to have targeted three major US military installations in Kuwait using “kamikaze drones”.

In a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the army said that its forces struck administrative buildings and direction-finding antennas at Camp Arifjan, a helicopter parking area at Camp Al-Adiri, and troop housing facilities at the Ahmed Al-Jaber base.

“Security in the region has been disrupted following the mischief of US terrorist forces, and the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic are attempting to restore security and calm to the region in their battle against the US,” the statement added.

The statement came moments after the IRGC claimed attacks on US assets at Ahmed Al-Jaber base and the Ali Al-Salem airbase.

Iran’s only effective response to Trump’s ‘brinkmanship’ is to establish strong ‘deterrence’

Mohsen Farkhani, a professor at the University of Isfahan in Iran, says coercion is central to Trump’s strategy on Iran, but warns that it will only provoke Tehran to seek greater deterrence.

“Trump’s strategy is to rely on brinkmanship and pure conflict to compel other states to comply with his demands,” Farkhani told Al Jazeera. And this has been seen “in his aggressive use of tariffs, his threats to bombard Oman, and the unlawful acts of aggression now being directed against Iran”, the analyst said.

And while the US president does use diplomacy, he does so “mainly as a tool to rig and force brinkmanship rather than to achieve genuine mutual accommodation”, Farkhani said.

In such a scenario, the “only effective response to such a strategy” for Iran is to impose “the highest possible costs and establish the strongest possible deterrence”, he said.

Farkhani said that Trump’s strategy will not succeed, including in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran is bombing Gulf states while avoiding US naval assets and Israel

As the US escalates its strikes on Iran, Tehran is hitting back, targeting military and civilian infrastructure across the Gulf states and Jordan while avoiding attacks on US naval assets deployed near its coast and on Israel – a strategy that analysts say is intended to pressure US President Donald Trump without expanding the scope of the war.

While Washington has struck railway stations, power facilities, telecommunications networks and drinking-water infrastructure in Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has responded by attacking civilian airports and water and power stations in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Military analysts said there’s a logic to this strategy.

Targeting US naval “assets would bring a devastating US response”, retired Lebanese Brigadier General and military analyst Elias Hanna told Al Jazeera. “Another issue is the targeting of naval assets is difficult militarily, because it’s protected and has sophisticated air defense systems.”

US petrol prices rise back to average of $4 a gallon

Petrol prices in the US have climbed back to a nationwide average of $4 per gallon (3.8 litres) as the US and Iran continue to trade attacks, AP reports.

Citing data from the AAA motor club, the agency said the national average for petrol has returned to the $4 mark, up from $3.14 per gallon at this time last year.

As a nationwide benchmark, that average means drivers in several states are already paying more than $4 per gallon, with regional prices varying based on local fuel supply and state taxes.

US petrol prices hit a four-year record of more than $4.50 a gallon in May, while the national average fell to as low as $3.79 a gallon earlier this month.

What civilian infrastructure has the US hit in Iran?

Iranian media and officials have reported several US strikes on civilian infrastructure in the ongoing escalation, including road and bridge networks, hospitals, airports, and water and food facilities.

Some of the reported incidents:

• In the city of Bandar Abbas, where Iran’s main naval hub and largest commercial port are located, a railway facility and the Kahurestan Bridge were hit. The bridge links Bandar Abbas, which lies on the Strait of Hormuz, to other cities. Multiple fatalities occurred during the strikes, and one vehicle fell off the bridge.
• In another part of Hormozgan province, six bridges were destroyed in Bandar Khamir county, hampering traffic to and from Bandar Abbas, the provincial capital.
  The Shahid Baghaei Hospital in the western city of Ahvaz was hit and rendered inoperable, causing more than 200 patients to be evacuated.
• The desalination plant in Bonji village was hit in Jask county, also in Hormozgan province, cutting off water supplies to 10,000 people.
• Airports – including those in Iranshahr, Semnan and Jam – were hit while fishing and commercial piers in Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Kish and Asaluyeh were attacked.
• US strikes also caused extensive damage to the Bushehr nuclear plant, Iran’s only operating nuclear plant, according to an Al Jazeera investigation. But authorities said it’s still functional.

Iran’s IRGC claims strikes on US military in Jordan

Iran’s IRGC has issued a statement claiming strikes against US military targets in Jordan.

In the statement, the IRGC said its aerospace force destroyed a missile defence radar system and an F-15 fighter jet inside a shelter during a missile attack on a military base.

The group added that the operation was intended to clear radar coverage in the region to pave the way for broader missile and drone strikes.

IRGC claims attack on Amazon data infrastructure in Bahrain

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has attacked a US commercial target in Bahrain.

In a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC claimed its aerospace force had destroyed the central data infrastructure of Amazon using cruise missiles.

It said the strike was a response to recent US attacks on civilian infrastructure in Darkhovin.

Iran’s Momeni says Pakistan visit aims to strengthen ties

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni has arrived in Islamabad for an official visit amid heightened tensions in the Gulf.

Momeni is travelling with a high-level delegation that includes the governor general of Sistan and Baluchestan province, the deputy interior minister, the deputy minister for urban development and transport, the head of the National Iranian Oil Company, the special representative of Iran’s agriculture minister and other senior officials.

Speaking to the media upon his arrival in Pakistan, Momeni said the primary objective of his visit was to further strengthen relations between the neighbouring countries and advance cooperation in key areas.

He said both sides previously agreed to more than triple their trade to an initial target of $10bn per year.

Pakistan’s interior minister said he looked forward to expanding bilateral engagement and supporting efforts to ease regional tensions.

Qatar resumes maritime navigation

The Qatari Ministry of Transport has announced the resumption of maritime navigation for all vessel types in an area within 7 nautical miles (13km) that covers Lusail to Hamad Port and Umm Heesh to Doha Salwa.

It said in a statement late on Monday that the decision takes immediate effect and urged strict compliance with regulations.

New UK government faces US pressure over access to strategic military bases

The US will expect the new UK government to allow it to use its strategic military bases while it continues its war on Iran, according to a British newspaper.

Trump is “pressing the new prime minister to maintain access to RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia”, The Telegraph reported.

Shortly after Andy Burnham took over as UK prime minister on Monday, the US president held a call with him.

The previous UK government under Keir Starmer did not allow the US to use the British Diego Garcia base on Chagos Island to launch its B2 bombers initially, but later adjusted its stance, allowing the US to use it for defensive operations, including attacks on degrading Iran’s military capability.

The United States under Donald Trump is not an "defensive" belligerent, as Trump is the one who attacked, and continuous to attack Iran since February 28th, waging a war that has no UNSC authorization thus illegal; is nuclear political motivated therefore violating the UN Charter.

Then, attacks to degrade Iran’s military capability are selected target attacks only carried out from the air while ground forces from both sides are not engaging each other.

Under Keir Starmer, the United Kingdom had facilitated the US by allowing offensive, not defensive attacks on Iran. If the new government under Andrew Burnham gives in on Trump's pressure, the United Kingdom remains a co-belligerent therefore responsible under states responsibility laws.