• US Central Command says Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched multiple ballistic missiles “in an attempted surprise attack” on US forces in the Middle East. All missiles were “successfully intercepted”.
• Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, warns that Tehran will consider “any action” to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, including the resumption of war.
• US President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and held “positive and productive” talks, according to the White House.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Kyiv has reassured him that its attack on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea “was unintentional, and Ukraine seeks no escalation”.

Trump says he had ‘very good’ meeting with Netanyahu

The US president says he held a “very good” meeting with Netanyahu and congressional representatives, during which key issues were covered.

“Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, along with myself and Representatives. Had a very good meeting! Obviously, many important subjects were discussed,” Trump posted on Truth Social along with several photographs of the meeting.

Netanyahu hails meeting with Trump as ‘one of the best’ ever

The Israeli prime minister has been speaking to Fox News about his meeting with Trump.

Netanyahu called the meeting “one of the best” he has ever had with Trump, while pushing back against any suggestions of strain in US-Israel relations. He said he always hates “to disappoint our would-be critics who are trying to find cracks in our alliance”, adding that what they find instead is “a wall of granite”.

He underscored a shared focus on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, saying, “We don’t want to see this fanatic regime in Tehran have nuclear weapons to threaten every American and to threaten the peace of the world, and to threaten the existence of Israel”.

He pointed out that the US and Israel’s common goal “is gonna be achieved, either through diplomatic means or other means”.

Netanyahu has now visited the White House eight times since Trump took office, more than any other foreign leader.

Trump, Netanyahu and the Iran question

For years, Trump and Netanyahu have shared one of the closest political alliances on the world stage – often more transactional than ideological.

Both men are said to have similar governing styles, rallying a broad base of right-wing voters against media and legal institutions they denounce as enemies.

Trump is considering resuming major combat operations in Iran that would likely include a joint military campaign with Israel similar to the launch of Operation Epic Fury on February 28.

A meeting with Netanyahu could be significant for Trump’s decision-making and for coordination between the countries.

Is Netanyahu’s Trump card losing its power in Israel?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long presented his closeness to the United States – both politically and personally – as evidence of his indispensability to Israel.

Arriving with a camera-ready American accent after spending a large portion of his youth in the country, Netanyahu is said to have used his unique understanding of US politics to charm and cajole numerous presidents into maintaining their unflagging support of Israel and his personal political projects.

For a time, it appeared as though US President Donald Trump was the most amenable of all past presidents to Israel and to Netanyahu, particularly after he became the first US leader to agree to participate in a joint war with Israel against Iran.

And yet, with that war stalling, Trump appearing more willing to make deals in the Middle East without Israeli input, and increasing criticism of Israel in the US, there is a sense in Israel that Netanyahu’s Trump card may not be as useful as it once was.

US forces claim intercepting Iranian missiles targeting bases in Jordan

CENTCOM has confirmed that a number of missiles were launched just more than an hour ago in what it believes was an attempted surprise attack on bases in the Middle East, which we now know to be in Jordan.

It said all missiles were intercepted, and that US forces remain on alert.

They could be waiting for a message from Trump, who has left the Oval Office for the evening, but no doubt has been informed about what is going on in the Middle East.

Just days ago, he described the talks with Iran as being very friendly, but also warned that he didn’t believe the Iranians were serious about discussing peace and that the US would take very strong military action if he felt that was the case. This has, of course, raised concern that the US may well respond militarily to what has happened in the last hour.

Trump has often talked about how he would like to see a deal with the Iranians, but this is a reminder from the Iranians that they are there; they know that Trump spoke to Netanyahu about the situation in Iran in the last few hours here at the White House.

This is Iran sending a message that they need to be involved in all discussions.

The US also has more than 20 Navy vessels in the region at the moment, many of which are involved in the blockade of Iran, stopping ships getting in and out. We know that the Iranian side sees this as an act of war. So it could well be that they have launched the first attack on a US base since Trump stopped the 13 days of attacks, and this could well bring a reaction from the US.

Iranian missile attack could have ‘tremendous impact’ on diplomacy

So far, there’s been no official reaction from Iranian authorities.

Usually, when Iran fires missiles, it’s very rare to see an immediate statement. It usually takes a couple of hours, and in the coming hours, perhaps, we’re going to see the statement from the IRGC or the armed forces of Iran, or the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, and they perhaps will come up with an explanation regarding this. Because two days ago, the spokesperson of the army said Iran’s responses on American bases in the region are “retaliatory”, and he said that as long as the US doesn’t attack Iran, Iran is not going to attack the US bases in the region.

And we understand that this is a preemptive attack, not a reactionary one, though we need to await on an official statement on this.

This marks quite an escalation now. Because after 13 consecutive days of constant bombing and tit-for-tat policy, the US had decided to pause its attacks, with Trump saying he wants to give diplomacy a chance.

But now that Iran has fired multiple missiles at a US military base in Jordan, it is definitely going to have a tremendous impact on the diplomacy and the ongoing talks, particularly between Omanis and Iranians regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran missiles target US forces in Jordan after a five-day pause in war

The US military says it has successfully intercepted a barrage of missiles fired by Iran at its troops in Jordan.

The sudden attack coincides with Netanyahu’s visit to the White House and comes after a five-day pause in the war.

IRGC claims ballistic missile attacks on US forces in Jordan

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) says its air force targeted a US air base and Central Command centre in Jordan about an hour ago “with several ballistic missiles”.

“As long as threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran continue and illegal and vicious actions by American forces against our interests continue, the resistance will continue,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by IRIB.

“Threats by American officials and illegal interventions against our interests must stop,” it added.

Iran likely trying to retake ‘the initiative and momentum’

Jason Campbell, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, says the Iranian attacks on US bases in Jordan, if confirmed, mark “a departure” from Tehran’s recent stated policy of not retaliating as long as the US paused its attacks.

He said there could be several motivations for the move.

“Part of it might be wanting to sort of retake the initiative and the momentum,” he said. “They’ve expressed skepticism a number of times before that the US calls a pause mostly to rearm itself and re-prepare for another phase of violence. Perhaps they sense the United States was doing just that, and decided now to interrupt that pause,” he said.

Campbell added it could also be “a message to Washington”, that amid talk of a potential escalation – including a recent buildup of US assets in Israel – Iran remains capable of striking back.

He also voiced skepticism about the prospects for talks.

“There’s really no agenda that both sides have agreed to in terms of what their respective strategic objectives are and how they’re going to be dealt with at a negotiating table,” he said. “And I think until we see that, it’s fair to be skeptical that any mention of talks is really not very fulfilling.”

‘This is a major escalation by both Iran and the United States’

There’s been no official reaction yet from the White House, State Department, or Pentagon.

There's just a statement from CENTCOM saying it intercepted a number of ballistic missiles headed towards US bases in the Middle East.

Local reporting suggests the target was the US airbase in Jordan that suffered three fatalities recently.

CENTCOM also issued a separate statement, saying that, acting with Saudi Arabia, it had struck a number of sites in Iraq linked to proxies believed to be acting for the IRGC who had been sending drones to target US allies and US forces in the region.

CENTCOM says those sites were destroyed. It’s not quite clear yet whether the strikes in Iraq were a response to the missile attack, or vice versa.

What is clear is that this is a major escalation by both Iran and the United States. There were essentially five days of no attacks between the two to allow peace talks to begin. Trump said those talks were “very good”, but warned he wasn’t going to wait forever for the Iranians and that, if they didn’t reach a deal, or if he judged the talks weren’t serious, then there would be a significant military response.
 

Jordan says five Iranian missiles shot down at dawn

The Jordanian Armed Forces says its air defences “dealt with five missiles coming from Iran that targeted the kingdom’s territory” at dawn today.

It said the missiles were intercepted and shot down.

This comes after the IRGC said its air force targeted a US airbase and Central Command centre in Jordan “with several ballistic missiles”.

Oil prices climb as US crude stockpiles decline

Oil prices have climbed more than $2 a barrel in early trading, Reuters reports, as declining US crude stockpiles helped recover some of the previous session’s losses that had come amid a lull in hostilities between Washington and Tehran.

Brent crude futures rose $2.71, or 3.2 percent, to $86.80 a barrel as of 00:02 GMT.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $2.26, or 3.4 percent, to trade at $81.95.

War on Iran – Phase II, Day 17

Political déjà vu as US President Donald Trump says negotiations with Iran are back on, insisting that Tehran is ‘begging’ for a deal.

Meanwhile Iran acknowledges that talks are taking place but says it is in no rush to reach an agreement.

Iran rejects Trump frozen funds plan, warns ships of Hormuz transit ban

Iran has rejected Trump’s claim that ships damaged by Iran in the Gulf would be compensated from frozen Iranian funds.

Revolutionary Guard spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned that any vessel taking such money would be banned from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

IRGC ‘strikes and stops’ 3 oil tankers in Hormuz

Iran’s IRGC has “struck and stopped” three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

“Three oil tankers that continued to move along an unsafe and illegal route, ignoring our warnings, were struck and stopped”, the IRGC said.

It warned that any vessel following “illegal interference or orders” from the US in the strait “will not go unanswered”.

Iran rejects Oman’s Hormuz proposal, demands partial control of Omani route

Kazem Gharibabadi, the deputy Iranian foreign minister, told state TV that Tehran has rejected Oman’s proposal to split transit routes equally between the two countries. Instead, he said Iran proposed managing shipping on its own side of the strait, while Muscat would manage part but not all of the opposite lane.

“Oman proposed to us the creation of a route in the Strait of Hormuz, with 50 percent of it located in our territorial waters and 50 percent in Omani territorial waters. The route for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz could involve entering through our waters and exiting through Omani territorial waters,” he said.

“Our proposal to Oman is that part of the transit route in the Strait of Hormuz be within our territorial waters, and that the part of the route passing through Omani waters also be under our control.”

Gharibabadi said the Strait will remain closed if Oman rejects the plan.

We believe that Oman offered a fair proposal but Iran wants control over the entire length and width of the Strait. The latter is not within the context of Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding and international law.

According to UNCLOS, the Strait is an international waterway, so NOT an international water (high seas), with freedom of navigation to all vessels.

Iran counters Oman’s proposal for Hormuz, warns strait will remain closed

There were reports of flexibility regarding Tehran’s position [on the Strait of Hormuz].

But Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Kazem Gharibabadi’s comments on Tuesday suggest that flexibility is not that significant yet.

The Omani delegation visited Tehran on Friday and Saturday and came up with a suggestion and a proposal to establish a regional consortium that will manage the Strait of Hormuz and the maritime traffic through it.

The Omanis suggested a 50-50 arrangement. So 50 percent of the strait to be under Iranian control and the rest to be under Omani control.

But the Iranians have opposed this idea – what they are asking for is the mechanism to be exclusively between Muscat and Tehran. This is because these are the two littoral states and Iran believes littoral states should have exclusive rights.

The Iranians are also asking for full control of 50 percent of the Strait of Hormuz and partial control of the other half.

So, despite the messages of positive progress in the talks, Iran is still not stepping back from its initial position of wanting full control over the Strait of Hormuz. Gharibabadi also said this was a counterproposal, and if the Omanis do not accept that proposal, the Strait of Hormuz is going to remain closed.

Iran rejects Oman proposal for joint oversight over Strait of Hormuz

Iran has rejected a proposal from Oman for their joint oversight of the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, Iran made a proposal of its own as both sides continue to pore over the terms of what a final agreement could look like.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said in a state broadcast that Oman’s proposal had not sufficiently addressed Tehran’s concerns about control of the strait. Iran’s counterproposal would give Tehran more control over the waterway, he added.

The narrow strait has been at the centre of the conflict between the United States and Iran since late February when US-Israeli attacks began.

Before the war, about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports were shipped from Gulf producers. Iran closed the strait shortly after the war began, triggering global supply challenges.

Iran to acquire 400 Chinese air defense systems, media report says

The Reuters news agency, citing three sources familiar with the matter, says Iran is set to take delivery of an initial shipment of up to 400 Chinese shoulder-fired air defense systems in the coming weeks.

The acquisition, estimated between $60m and $70m, represented one of Tehran’s most significant efforts to bolster its short-range air defense capabilities following the launch of the US and Israel’s war on the country, which has revealed vulnerabilities in its ability to shield critical infrastructure and military bases.

Reuters said the contract entailed the purchase of 300 to 400 man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), specifically involving Chinese QW-12 and FN-16 missiles.

The deal was finalized with Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, a Hong Kong-based entity that sources identified as an intermediary connecting Iranian officials with the Chinese defense manufacturer.

EU’s Kallas raises regional tensions in call with Iran’s Araghchi

The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas says she has discussed the situation in the Gulf as well as Iran’s support for Russia in a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

“In the Gulf, the reprieve from fighting can buy mediators time to find a way back to diplomacy and prevent a return to full-scale war,” Kallas said in a post on X.

Kallas also condemned the brief detention of two French diplomats in Iran, calling it an “unacceptable” act of “aggression”. She also addressed Iran’s support for Moscow, saying she reiterated her call “on Iran to end its military support for Russia”.

She added that it was “encouraging” that Araghchi spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha to reduce tensions following a deadly Ukrainian attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea.

Iran presses Ukraine to admit responsibility for Caspian ship attack

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz in a phone call.

A ministry statement said Araghchi also demanded that Ukraine explicitly accept responsibility for an attack on an Iranian commercial vessel he said killed and wounded Iranian citizens.

Referring to a recent call with his Ukrainian counterpart, he said it’s unacceptable to describe the attack as unintentional, pointing to what he called President Volodymr Zelenskyy’s public acceptance of responsibility.

Kallas posted earlier reiterating her call on Iran to end its military support for Russia, condemned the brief detention of two French diplomats in Iran as “unacceptable”, and welcomed Araghchi’s contact with his Ukrainian counterpart.

The Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea may have been indeed intentionally attacked, despite claims by @MFA_Ukraine, as it comes after Russia attacked a cargo ship off Odessa on July 26th also by claiming it carried weapons.

Ukrainian MFA had claimed that the Iranian cargo ship carried weapons. It had yesterday "assured" Tehran that the attack was "unintentional."

The attack on the Iranian vessel is to be considered reckless as it creates the risk, that the Caspian Sea becomes another war zone.

When Iran makes clear that any attack by whoever won't be unanswered, Ukraine should take this seriously.

Pakistan urges US, Iran parties to uphold MoU

Pakistan’s envoy to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has expressed concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East and urged all sides to “uphold their commitments” under the memorandum of understanding signed last month.

Addressing the UN Security Council, Ahmad also condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia and on commercial shipping, saying Pakistan was “deeply concerned over attempts to drag” the kingdom into the wider conflict, and voiced support for Saudi security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He went on to express Pakistan’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, saying “lasting peace in the Middle East will remain elusive as long as” Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory continues.

Saudi, Gulf foreign ministers discuss de-escalation, condemn Iran-linked attacks

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has received phone calls from his counterparts in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, during which the diplomats “stressed the importance of continuing efforts to de-escalate tensions”, according to his office.

Prince Faisal spoke with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.

The ministers stressed the importance of safeguarding “freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait” to help mitigate the security and economic fallout of the crisis.

They also condemned attacks by Iran and “its affiliated militias in Iraq and Yemen”, and emphasized continued coordination and stronger joint action through the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Unclear who started shooting first as regional attacks shatter calm

Iran’s IRGC says it fired missiles at a US airbase in Jordan in response to “aggressive actions” by the US military.

So the question is whether this was a specific response to the US-Saudi joint strikes on the Iraqi paramilitary group, the Popular Mobilization Forces. CENTCOM’s statement has not clarified which attack happened first.

Recently, the spokesperson of the Iranian army said Iran’s responses are retaliatory and if the US doesn’t attack Iran, it will not attack US bases across the region.

At the moment, it remains unclear who started the strikes, but what is clear is the region is on edge again after days of relative calm in the Middle East.

On July 26, 2026, Iran announces it will halt its own ​attacks as long as the United States does the same. The development comes as the United States pressed ‌pause on its bombing campaign after President Donald Trump's advisers told him they were running out of targets and expressed worries about depleting the U.S. arsenal.

Oil surges 3% as war uncertainty rattles markets

Investors ⁠are contending with uncertainty in the Middle East, where diplomatic efforts to end ⁠the US-Israeli war on Iran have proceeded in fits and starts and durable peace remains elusive.

“That sort of rapid flipping and flopping has made the signal and the noise a lot harder to separate,” said Edward Acton, rates strategist at GMO.

New strikes in the Middle East overnight lifted Brent crude futures by 3.29 percent to $86.86 a barrel, putting them on track to ‌snap a three-day losing streak.

“Oil volatility, not just the level, can be inflationary if some prices go up with oil but are reluctant to come back down,” BofA Securities strategists wrote in a note.

US attack reported in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province

Iranian news outlets report an attack has occurred in an area near the Piranshahr border in northwestern Iran.

“An American enemy missile hit an uninhabited area in the province causing no casualties,” Fars news agency reported, quoting a local official.

We believe that this report is related to the attack on Saudi Arabia from Iraqi soil, and could have an effect on the progress in communication via Pakistan to have the Memorandum of Understanding renewed respected.

Trump pledges response to surprise Iran attack on Jordan base

President ⁠Trump has pledged to “hit ⁠Iran hard” after the US military said it intercepted ‌multiple ballistic missiles launched towards American forces in the ⁠Middle East.

The comments came in an interview with Fox News. It ⁠was not ⁠broadcast, but a Fox reporter summarized Trump’s response.

After an expletive-laden threat, Trump told Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst: “We’ll be hitting them hard. They’re going to get a beating.”

He said the missile attack gave American troops only minutes to react before they successfully intercepted the incoming projectiles.

Trump also said overnight air strikes carried out by U.S. and Saudi forces against Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq were conducted in coordination with the Iraqi government. He described the militias as “a cancer on the world” and said his administration was weighing additional actions aimed at Iranian proxy groups.

Well, it should leave by one retaliatory attack, more of these attacks is resorting to escalation.

GCC forces hold military drills in Bahrain amid regional tensions

Armed forces from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are taking part in a joint military exercise in Bahrain, the country’s Defense Force has said.

Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Dhiab bin Saqr al-Nuaimi said the “Bahrain Shield” exercise running from July 28 to 30 was aimed at raising combat readiness, improving operational planning and strengthening coordination among Gulf forces.

He said the participation of GCC armed forces “embodies the features of a robust joint Gulf military force capable of confronting various challenges”. The drills, he added, were “a solid strategic foundation for military solidarity and a firm pillar for standing united against any treacherous attacks”.

Al-Nuaimi said recent violence in the region reinforced the need for joint defense. “The treacherous attacks witnessed in the region dictate that we develop joint military defense cooperation,” he added.

Iran’s Hormuz Strait plan more about security than economics

Iran’s rejection of an Omani proposal to jointly manage the Strait of Hormuz reflects a drive for military and strategic control rather than financial incentives, an analyst says.

Sascha Bruchmann, a defense research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that Iran’s demands have shifted over time without the goal changing.

“They started out with demanding tolls, which are absolutely against the current international legal frameworks. Then they switched to service fees because they thought that’s a bit like what happens in the Strait of Malacca. Now we’ve got talk of a voluntary fee,” he said.

“The idea for them is still to maintain a toehold in the Strait of Hormuz. They’re not giving up the idea of dominating that chokepoint.”

Bruchmann said Iran rejected the fifty-fifty control plan because it would have left one shipping lane outside its purview.

“From the Iranian point of view, that’s one lane that they don’t control, and this is about military and security control. This has nothing to do … with securing global oil supplies,” he said.

Bruchmann said the move is an effort to reach a separate understanding with Gulf states and away from Washington, and to press its advantage incrementally, “conflict by conflict, crisis by crisis”.

White House ramps up ‘heated rhetoric’ following strikes

President Trump spoke to Fox News in just the last hour saying there will be a response to the attacks against US military assets in Jordan: “We’ll be hitting them hard; they’re going to get a beating,” he said.

Overnight, the United States and Saudi Arabia conducted joint strikes against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq – this in response to what US officials have said were attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

So, there was a lot going on over the course of the night and heated rhetoric in the response from officials.

But the position of the White House has remained largely unchanged: the focus remains on military pressure and economic pressure, but in that same breath, President Trump is saying he feels the US is “very close” to reaching a diplomatic off-ramp with Tehran.

Latest flare-up paves way for ‘further confrontation down the road’

Roughly four days after a relative ceasefire situation, now we see new signs of escalation, however limited.

A statement from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confirms an attack on US military assets in Jordan. It said an airbase and a command centre were targeted, and “as long as threats against Iran persist, resistance will persist”.

The interesting change in language from previous statements is it talks about the continuation of aggression or attacks – and now, they’re using the word “threat”.

We know that in Piranshahr city, in northwestern Iran close to the Iraqi border, local authorities announced an attack by the Americans. There is no confirmation regarding casualties.

Still, the recent statements coming from the US president and the military side in Tehran – there is the potentiality for further confrontation down the road.

Pezeshkian urges Iranians to ‘stand firm’ against ‘the enemy’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for Iranians to “fight the enemy and stand firm against them so that we do not submit to injustice and oppression”.

“In the same way, we cannot oppress our citizens or commit injustice against them,” the IRNA news service quoted him as saying.

Pezeshkian added Iran has proven a “unique model of resistance”.

No war resolution until ‘political or strategic space’ changes

It’s unclear how the US-Iran conflict can be resolved with both sides believing they have leverage over the other, says Sascha Bruchmann, a defense research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The Strait of Hormuz continues to be a main point of contention, he said.

“The Americans certainly don’t want any control by an Iran that is aligned with China… The Iranians, though, now have tasted blood and they think they’ve won this war and can kick the Americans out [of the Middle East],” Bruchmann said.

“So therefore, I’m a bit skeptical about where this leaves us without any currently viable proposal until something changes in the political or strategic space – until someone is forced to accept unfavorable terms,” added the former NATO adviser.

IRGC says it targeted three oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy says it “targeted and stopped” three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after they ignored warnings, according to the Tasnim news agency.

The names of the vessels, ownership, exact location and details of the alleged violations in the waterway were not disclosed, but Tehran has rejected a southern route along Oman’s coast.

The “illegal interventions and orders” of the US will not go “unanswered by vessels in the region”, said the IRGC statement.

US issues new Iran sanctions targeting oil tankers

The Trump administration has issued another round of Iran-related sanctions targeting eight tankers and 10 entities, according to a notice posted on the US Treasury Department’s website.

The sanctions are the latest in a series of “maximum pressure” measures Washington has imposed on Iran’s oil trade and “shadow fleet” in recent months, as the Treasury Department seeks to cut off revenue it says funds Tehran’s weapons program and regional proxies.

The move comes as tensions in the Middle East soar with the United States and Iran trading attacks, and desperately needed energy supplies not reaching markets with the Strait of Hormuz in effect closed.

Drone hits gas storage tanker in Egypt, maritime security firm says

A drone has hit a US-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta, says maritime security firm Ambrey.

Two gas tankers caught fire at Damietta, said port services firm Inchcape.

Situation ‘under control’ after explosion at Damietta port in Egypt

“Local authorities responded promptly” after an explosion was reported at the Mediterranean port in Egypt, said port services firm Inchcape.

As earlier reported , maritime security firm Ambrey said a drone hit a US-owned gas storage tanker. Inchcape reported an explosion “at the LNG terminal during cargo discharge operations”.

“The vessels involved have been safely relocated outside the port area,” Inchcape’s statement says, adding that “port operations are expected to resume during the night-time at other berths and terminals”.

Egypt says explosion at Damietta port ‘dealt with immediately’

Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has confirmed that the incident at Damietta port saw a fire break out on a tugboat and storage ship, but that no casualties have been reported.

“The situation was dealt with immediately in accordance with the emergency plans … and firefighting and safety teams at the site,” the ministry said in a Facebook post.

The ministry did not address the cause of the fire. Maritime security firm Ambrey earlier reported that a drone hit a US-owned gas storage tanker at the port.

Trump again threatens to hit Iran ‘very hard’

The US president has reiterated his threat to strike Iran “very hard”.

Asked during an Oval Office appearance if he was aware of the earlier explosion at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta, Trump said he had been briefed and “it’s going to be straightening out”.

“In the meantime, we’re going to be hitting them very hard, because it’s our turn to hit them,” Trump said of Iran. “They know it’s coming.”

“We’ll see if we get there with an agreement at some point,” he added, before repeating the threat.

Egyptian FM speaks with US special envoy Witkoff

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has discussed regional de-escalation efforts with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

Abdelatty “stressed the necessity of respecting the principles of good neighborliness, fully adhering to the rules of international law, and respecting the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of states”, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a readout of the call.

As we’ve been reporting, a drone hit a US-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta, according to maritime security firm Ambrey.

President Trump said earlier he had been briefed on the incident.

Trump says he wants Iran tariffs added to Russia sanctions bill

Trump says he wants US Congress add Iran tariffs to a Russia sanctions bill.

“I’d like to see tariffs on Iran, that would make it much stronger,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.

Qatar and Germany discuss regional de-escalation and bilateral cooperation

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, held a phone call with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, during which they reviewed bilateral cooperation and the latest regional developments.

The two discussed diplomatic efforts and coordination to de-escalate tensions and enhance regional security and stability, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed the need for all parties to commit to “dialogue and diplomacy” and implement what was agreed under the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran — including guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz — to preserve regional security, safeguard gains made and strengthen stability.

He renewed Qatar’s “full support” for all efforts to defuse tensions and reach a “comprehensive agreement” for lasting peace in the region.

Tehran wields Hormuz as ‘very strong’ lever in potential future deal

Tehran is approaching the Strait of Hormuz as its most important bargaining chip to achieve a larger set of goals, an analyst says.

“The Iranians realize they hold a very strong strategic lever here,” said Patrick Bury, a senior associate professor in security at the University of Bath.

“There’s also – from a military perspective – an asymmetry in the costs that they can impose on the US allies in the region.”

As Tehran decides its next moves during the latest rise in tensions, “it’s more likely to be the major Iranian position that there’s no deal on the Strait of Hormuz without a wider deal about its security concerns,” including sanctions and its nuclear program, Bury added.

“They see the Strait of Hormuz as one lever among a number which … will need to be addressed before they recognize a deal.”

Oil prices jump amid regional escalation

In the oil market, the price of Brent crude has leapt 6.7 percent to $87.55 per barrel after fighting resumed in the US-Israel war on Iran, raising worries about the global flow of oil.

Brent oil’s price had swung as low as $72 early this month and as high as $102 last week on uncertainty about whether the United States and Iran could reach a deal to allow oil tankers to move freely again from the Middle East to customers worldwide.

Qatar condemns Iranian attacks in Jordan

Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “strongly” condemned the latest Iranian attacks in Jordan, calling them “a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

In a statement, the ministry said “the continuation of these attacks represents a dangerous escalation that could complicate efforts to contain tensions.”

The ministry urged “an immediate and complete cessation of all military actions” and a return to diplomacy.

US military says it has redirected 20 vessels in renewed Iran blockade

The US military says it has turned back a total of 20 commercial vessels as part of its reimposed blockade on Iran’s southern ports.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said yesterday it had redirected 18 ships in total since the reintroduction of the blockade earlier this month, meaning that two were turned back in the past day.

The military added it has disabled two ships and boarded another two.

Trump pausing diplomacy to impose a ‘heavy price’ on Iran for strike on Jordan base

Trump started the day with a TV interview here, and he used a number of expletives to explain what was going to happen next to Iran, not language you’d use in front of your mother.

He then was in the Oval Office, perhaps a bit more sedate, a bit more respectfully said that they were going to attack Iran, that they had attacked the base in Jordan and it was now the United States’ turn. He said they are expecting it, but … and he let that hang.

He’s made it clear that they’re going to pay a heavy price for Wednesday’s attack in Jordan.

Of course, just a few days ago he was talking about how there were very powerful discussions ongoing with the Iranians, how they were asking to make a deal, how they were “very friendly” discussions.

But he did carry that with a caveat, saying that if there were no deal, then they would go back to a very heavy military operation.

Now he met with advisers at the White House on Friday to discuss exactly what the next stage of the operation could look like, what targets they could hit and what exactly they will do, but he decided instead to order a five-day pause in attacks on Iran.

And now it looks as if in the next couple of hours we might see some sort of attack on the Iranians.

It’s clear that for the time being, he’s decided to shelve any discussions and look for a military response to what has happened in the last 24 hours.

Lack of viable military options likely to force Trump to return to negotiations

Harlan Ullman, a former senior US naval officer, says Washington has no good military options in Iran and must return to the negotiating table.

“As the CENTCOM commander and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs here have said, we’re running out of military targets,” he said. “That gives Trump four options, all bad.”

The first is “to increase attacks,” but the lack of military targets means hitting civilian targets instead, he says.

The second is to use ground forces to attack Iran’s Kharg Island, but such a “very dangerous” operation could end in “potential disaster”.

The third option would be a “demonstrative” shock of a nuclear weapon, “which in my mind would be rather extreme, for no other reason than if it were an airburst, the electromagnetic pulse would fry anything with a computer chip for a hundred miles”.

“The fourth option is the most sensible, which is negotiation through diplomacy,” he said, adding that despite the slow pace of talks, exhaustion is likely to lead both sides to that outcome eventually.

Trump aiming to squeeze Iran economically with new sanctions and tariffs

Twenty-four hours ago, CENTCOM talked about how 20 ships were involved in operations Economic Fury, as it was called in the early days of the war. That’s effectively the blockade of Iranian ports.

Donald Trump wants no ships from going in or going out. He thinks that this is a huge economic lever. In fact, he has said in the past that it probably forced the Iranians to the negotiating table much more than the bombing did.

And that has been reinstated in the last four or five days. Since it was reinstated, CENTCOM has confirmed that they’ve diverted 20 commercial vessels. They’ve also boarded two others and said they disabled two others.

Quite what boarding and disabled mean, we’re not entirely sure. But it’s clear that the US believes that there has to be an economic price for Iran.

Add that to sanctions that were announced earlier today, and the fact that Donald Trump in the Oval Office was talking about not just renewing sanctions on Iran, with congressional approval, but also looking at tariffs.

It’s clear he believes the economy is an area where he can target Iran.

Iran dismisses Omani proposal for joint reopening of Hormuz Strait

The naval forces of the Revolutionary Guard has confirmed that they have targeted three oil tankers as they were trying to approach the Strait of Hormuz within a trajectory not approved by the Iranian side.

When it comes to the Strait of Hormuz, another point of contention, it seems that things are getting more and more complicated.

First, the trajectory that Iran is trying to talk about when it comes to potentially reopening of the strait, rejecting the Omani proposal in that regard.

Also, the charges that they have been talking about when it comes to any transiting through this geo-strategically significant chokepoint.

And also the clearance operations, when it comes to mines, under way, and they are saying that these operations should be carried out by the Iranian side.

Trump says US to deliver ‘beating’ to Iran after bases again targeted

Trump has pledged a major escalation against Iran after the latest Iranian attacks on US military sites in the Middle East.

Trump made the threat in an expletive-laden interview with Fox News reporter Trey Yingst on Wednesday.

Quoting Trump, Yingst said the president promised to “beat the f***ing s*** out of them”.

“We’ll be hitting them hard,” Yingst reported the president saying. “They’re going to get a beating.”

The report came a day after Iran said it attacked US forces at a military base in Jordan, the latest salvo in a five-month-long conflict.

US military conducting air strikes in Iran, US media reports

The US military is conducting air strikes in Iran, an Axios reporter said, citing a senior US official who confirmed forces were attacking targets inside the country.