• US President Donald Trump says Iran will be “hit very hard” after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a ballistic missile attack on a US base in Jordan.
• A drone has hit a US-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta, causing a fire, according to maritime security firms

Trump threatens Iran strikes after attack on US base in Jordan

”It’s our turn.”

President Donald Trump says the US will hit Iran “very hard” following an attack on US forces in Jordan. Trump said Iran’s missiles were “knocked down”, but the US would respond anyway.

He made the comment yesterday.

Trump’s threats come days after he said US was holding talks with Iran

Well, it will be a tense early morning in Iran given what Trump has been saying over the last several hours.

First of all, in an interview on American television early on Wednesday morning, he was very explicit, using a number of profanities to suggest what was going to happen to Iran next.

Then, at an event in the Oval Office, he said it was their turn to beat up Iran, given what had happened at the airbase in Jordan in the last 24 hours. He said there’s very little they can do; we’re going to smack them around a little bit.

As of this moment, while there have been some suggestions of attacks under way, nothing confirmed by CENTCOM, nothing confirmed by Trump on his Truth Social platform. We do know that a couple of days ago, Trump was talking about how he thought the talks were very powerful, how they were very friendly, and they could lead to a possible agreement.

But he also threatened to restart the war if he didn’t believe that Iran was serious in negotiations.

Clearly, his patience is running thin with the comments he’s made in the last several hours, and we wait to see if the tension that is being felt in Iran is warranted with military action here from the United States.

‘If we’ve not thought this out, then we get caught in this escalatory cycle’

Harlan Ullman, a former senior US naval officer, says that the US is “telegraphing a punch” in announcing that it will strike Iran.

“Donald Trump has already alerted Iran that this is coming,” he said, referring to the US president’s comments to the media that a US retaliation for an Iranian attack on its military in Jordan would be coming soon.

“The question is, what do we then do next?” he says. “If we’ve not thought this out, then we get caught in this escalatory cycle where we head nowhere except up and up and up.”

He cautioned that if the escalation goes too far, the US may hit civilian infrastructure, hurting the Iranian people and drawing global condemnation.

“I don’t think that’s very good for America, and I don’t think it would be very good for the Trump administration.”

US forces launch strikes against Iran

US Central Command says its forces began the strikes against Iran at 8pm ET on Wednesday (00:00 GMT).

In a statement on X, CENTCOM said that the strikes were a “powerful response to attempted attacks” against US forces based in the Middle East the previous day.

Iran says resistance will continue as long as US threats persist

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has carried out operations against US military assets in Jordan, saying it targeted an airbase as well as a command centre.

It says that as long as the American threats continue, the resistance from the Iranian side is going to continue as well. And it has asked US officials to stop their threatening language against Tehran.

 

Explosions heard in southern Iran

Explosions have been heard in several locations in southern Iran following the launch of the US attacks, Press TV reports.

Three explosions heard on Qeshm Island

Three explosions have been heard on Qeshm Island, inside the city, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reports.

Locals said a missile struck a residential area, though information regarding casualties remains unavailable, Tasnim reports.

Explosions heard in Bushehr

Explosions have been heard in Bushehr province, where Iran’s only nuclear power plant is located, according to the IRIB state broadcaster.

US forces attack Iran’s Abadan; blasts heard in Bandar Abbas

The state broadcaster IRIB cited a deputy security minister in Khuzestan province as saying that US forces targeted “some locations in Abadan”.

IRIB also said two explosions were heard in the port city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province, and that “similar sounds” have been heard on the islands of Abu Musa, Kish and Qeshm.

It cited a senior Hormozgan province official as saying there have been no attacks on the city of Sirik.

Bessent says US ‘will not allow Iran to hold global commerce hostage’

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the Iranian regime is “desperate for cash” as its economy spirals and inflation reaches triple digits, following his office’s announcement of new sanctions on the country.

“The United States will not allow Iran to hold global commerce hostage or use international shipping to finance the IRGC’s terrorism, aggression, and repression,” he wrote on X.

Earlier, the Treasury Department said it had imposed sanctions on two firms it described as integral to an IRGC-backed extortion scheme that forces commercial vessels to purchase mandatory maritime “insurance” to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

“desperate"

We have been seeing the Trump administration using this slur on the regular basis, and has been found not matching with reactions from Iran.

US strikes hit Iran’s Kazerun and Kish Island

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency says US forces have hit southwestern Fars province as well as the island of Kish in the Gulf.

In Fars province, US forces targeted an area on the outskirts of the city of Kazerun, according to Tasnim.

It said two loud explosions were heard on Kish Island following a missile strike, but cited authorities as saying that operations at the island’s airport and passenger ferry services remain unaffected.

Two people trapped under rubble after US strike on Qeshm

Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster reports that two people are trapped under rubble following the US strike on a residential building on Qeshm.

Citing the deputy governor of Hormozgan province, IRIB said the building in the Chah-Tango neighbourhood of Qeshm city was “hit by enemy projectiles,” and that “search and rescue operations are under way to save the trapped individuals with all available resources”.

Iran’s Qeshm restores power after US strike caused brief outage

The semi-official Tasnim news agency reports that power has been fully restored across Qeshm following a temporary blackout caused by a missile strike on the electrical grid.

According to the head of the local power company, repair crews successfully resolved the outage, though all personnel remain on high alert.

Tasnim reported that US warplanes flew over Qeshm early this morning, firing multiple missiles at locations across the island.

‘There’s no indication yet what the targets are’

Trump made it clear that because of Iran’s attempted attack on the US base in Jordan on Tuesday, there would be a response, and a very heavy one.

“Powerful” is the word US CENTCOM used when it announced the start of the attack just over two hours ago. There’s no indication yet what the targets are, but there are numerous reports of bombing in southern parts of Iran.

Trump said the Iranians had asked him not to go ahead with this, but responded that “it is our turn”. As far as the United States is concerned, this is a direct response to Iran’s actions on Tuesday.

This could clearly become a much longer campaign. Trump did pause the 13 days of bombing on Friday – a surprise move that came after discussions with advisers in the White House about what the next stage of the conflict might look like. At the time, he decided to give talks a chance, describing them as “very powerful” and “very friendly”. But after Tuesday night’s events, his patience appeared to run out. He said he wouldn’t wait forever, and ultimately gave the go-ahead for this attack.

A number of experts have suggested there may be aircraft in the skies over Iran, though this is more likely a cruise missile attack targeting several sites in the south of the country. It remains unclear how long the operation could last, or whether this marks the beginning of an entirely new phase in the conflict between Iran and the United States.

Two hospitalized following US strike on Qeshm

The semi-official Tasnim news agency now reports that two wounded people from the site have been transferred to a local hospital.

It said search and debris-removal operations continue at the site.

US strikes hit Iran’s Ahvaz

US forces have hit several locations in Ahvaz in southwestern Khuzestan province, with power outages reported in some parts of the city, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

At least seven locations in the city were hit, the IRIB state broadcaster added.

It also said explosions were heard in the cities of Shadegan, Arvandkenar, and Abadan in Khuzestan province.

Oil prices ease despite escalating tensions

Oil prices have retreated from earlier gains, with Brent crude futures dropping $1.29, or 1.42 percent, to $89.45 a barrel as of 01:10 GMT, Reuters reports, as oil tankers continue to leave the Middle East despite the expanding conflict between the US and Iran.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude went down 56 cents, or 0.66 percent, to trade at $83.90.

The retreat came after oil surged in the previous session, with Brent rising 7.91 percent and WTI settling up 6.56 percent in one of the war’s sharpest spikes, reversing a 5 percent drop on Tuesday following a brief pause in the five-month conflict.

US says has completed ‘heavy wave’ of strikes on Iran

US Central Command (CENTCOM) says it has completed a “heavy wave of strikes against Iran” following yesterday’s attempted missile attacks on American forces in Jordan.

It said in a statement that its assets struck dozens of Revolutionary Guard targets in Iran, including “military command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense sites, and maritime capabilities.”

CENTCOM said the strikes aimed to “further diminish threats posed by Iran and its proxies to American forces, commercial shipping, and neighboring Gulf nations”.

CENTCOM added that more than 50,000 US service members currently deployed to the region “remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready”.

Search efforts continue in Qeshm after 2 children rescued

Search and rescue operations continue for people trapped under rubble following a US strike on Qeshm Island, with officials confirming that the two people pulled from the debris and taken to hospital earlier were children.

The director general of crisis management for the Hormozgan governorate told the IRIB state broadcaster that “efforts are ongoing to rescue three other members of this family.”

The building struck by US forces was reportedly home to a family of five.

Three trapped under rubble in Qeshm as US strikes hit across southern Iran

According to Iranian officials, a residential building on Qeshm Island was hit, with three people reported trapped under the rubble. Authorities also said the island has experienced power outages, and officials are working to restore electricity.

Two people injured in the attack have been transferred to hospital, and debris removal is ongoing.

The pattern of these latest strikes is similar to what happened in the 13-day military campaign carried out by the US, with attacks concentrated in Iran’s southern provinces, particularly those along the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Kish Island was also struck, though authorities say there have been no disruptions to passenger or car ferry schedules, or to port operations there.

In Bandar Abbas, reports of explosions were later clarified by authorities, who said the sounds heard were not from strikes on the city itself, but were echoes from the attack on Qeshm Island.

And Fars province is Iran’s only non-coastal province that has been struck, with the city of Kazerun targeted. Fars is located in central Iran.

And then, in Khuzestan province, at least three locations were struck. The region is considered the heart of Iran’s oil industry.

Another child pulled from the rubble in Qeshm

The IRIB state broadcaster reports that a third child has been rescued from the rubble.

The US strike reportedly hit a building housing a family of five. Rescue efforts continue for the remaining two people.

US attack on Qeshm kills 3

The Fars news agency is now reporting that three people have been killed in the US attack on the residential building in Qeshm.

Citing the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Fars said the victims were a couple and their two-year-old child. Two other children, aged seven and nine, who were wounded remain at the hospital.

US’s ongoing attacks on Iran ‘not a viable campaign’

Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East analyst with RANE Network, says the US has two likely escalation paths in the war on Iran.

“The first is the repeat of what America was doing prior to last Friday, which is focusing on targets and infrastructure related to Iran’s blockade of Hormuz, or it could be an escalation towards the bridges and power plant strategy that President Trump has repeatedly threatened over and over again,” he said.

The attacks this morning so far appear to be the first of the two, Bohl said.

US officials “believe that repeatedly striking these targets will somehow erode Iran’s ability to conduct its blockade campaign against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz”, he said.

“But there isn’t a real military reason to believe that this is a viable campaign. It looks more like the United States is trying to send signaling to the Iranians that they’ll climb the escalation ladder, rather than carrying out a serious campaign to degrade capabilities.”

That’s because, Bohl said, Iran has adapted to the US’s air campaigns.

“This war is now five months old, but [Iran has] also long carried out a decentralized, mosaic defense strategy that means an air campaign has to hit many, many targets – far more than I think the Americans are capable of, in an appreciable timeframe, to be effective.”

Trump ‘trying to keep things proportionate, or to keep things open for diplomacy’

David Des Roches, a former Pentagon official, says the latest US strikes on Iran were “more of the same”, hitting a similar set of targets as previous rounds of strikes this month.

“I would have expected intensity or an expansion of targets,” he said. “I would have also expected that he [Trump] would amp it up to include dual-use targets. So far, we haven’t seen any indication of that, so it sounds like not a very overwhelming attack.”

De Roches said Trump was perhaps “trying to keep things proportionate, or to keep things open for diplomacy”.

He added that the US does not have a strategy, only a “rough operational plan” based on air power.

“They’ve chosen to pursue it with air power alone, which – unless you’re dealing with a very small country – takes a long time, and you always wind up expanding your target set, and you always have to do it for longer than you’d think,” he said.

Trump’s “military focus is just on stopping the ability of Iran to threaten its neighbors. So there is a divergence with Israel, which sees Iran as an existential threat”, he added.

Expectation grows of Iranian missile strikes on US bases in Gulf

What we have seen through the last 13 days – when the United States was constantly, on a daily basis, carrying out attacks – is that Iran’s response was focusing particularly on three countries: Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

So now, although there are still no official reactions on how they are going to respond, we are seeing updates through social media accounts that are quite close to the IRGC or the authorities here. They are already saying that some of these missiles that have hit Iran were fired from Kuwait, and there are calls for attacks on Kuwait.

The expectation is that Iran is going to respond with missiles targeted at US military bases, particularly in Kuwait this time. Bahrain is also on the target list of the Iranians.

What Iran is saying is that their response is retaliatory; so if the United States attacks Iran, then, inevitably, Tehran is going to respond.

The US is running low on interceptors

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has said that the US has expended about a third of its Patriot missiles and about half of its THAAD interceptor missiles since the start of its war on Iran.

It said the US had an estimated 2,330 Patriot interceptors before the war, and now has about 759 to 827.

As for THAAD interceptors, the US had an estimated 452 before the war, and now has about 234-278.

CSIS said the numbers are drawn from US Department of Defense 2027 budget materials and public information.

A renewed war “would test diminished interceptor inventories”, it warned, adding that the reduced stores “may force the United States and its coalition partners to take more risks with interceptions”.

US ‘seriously running low’ on high-end air defense munitions

Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East analyst with RANE Network, says that the US is running low on high-end capabilities.

“It’s joint standoff weapons that can be fired from other countries. It’s a high-end air defense munitions, like the THAAD – those are running seriously low, and we know from multiple reports that many Pentagon planners are seriously concerned about that supply going forward,” he said.

Bohl added that the US “does have a more or less endless supply of dumb bombs that they could use against the Iranians”.

But that requires flying inside Iranian territory, he said. “And we’ve already seen an F-15 getting shot down. We’ve seen an F-35 getting clipped by Iranian air defences. And I don’t think this administration is particularly eager to use those simpler systems that are higher risk for that, because of that military risk that the Iranian air defense has posed to them.”

Jordan says air defenses intercepted five incoming missiles from Iran

The Jordanian Armed Forces say their air defense systems have intercepted and shot down five missiles launched from Iran targeting the kingdom’s territory early this morning.

According to an official spokesperson for the armed forces, military radar detected the incoming missiles before air defense units successfully engaged and downed all five targets.

Iran and Oman swap proposals to manage Strait of Hormuz

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

• Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran’s counterproposal would see Iran manage shipping through its side of ‌the strait, with Muscat managing part – but not all – of the opposite lane.
• “Our proposal is for one route to lie entirely within the territorial waters of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with part of the other route also passing through Iranian territorial waters, so that Iran can effectively exercise oversight over both inbound and outbound traffic,” Gharibabadi said.
• Sources told Al Jazeera that Oman is now considering yet another proposal, which could include three routes for maritime traffic: one running through Iran’s territorial waters, an international lane, and a third running through Omani waters.
• It’s not yet clear how Tehran will respond to the proposal, but the sources said officials are “demonstrating some flexibility”.

Iran says US air strikes hit three cities in Bushehr overnight

Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster reports that the US military targeted three cities in the province of Bushehr overnight.

The deputy political, security and social affairs officer of the Bushehr governor told the broadcaster that the air strikes hit areas around the cities of Bushehr, Jam and Khormoj.

No casualties were reported following the attacks, he said, according to IRIB.

Bushehr province hosts the country’s only nuclear power plant.

IRGC says two tankers turned back after fire breaks out in Strait of Hormuz

The IRGC says two oil tankers attempting to use the “unsafe route” south of the Strait of Hormuz turned back overnight, after a “severe fire” broke out on one of them.

In a statement on its official Telegram channel, the IRGC said the vessels had been directed onto the route by US aircraft. It did not identify the tankers by name, flag or operator, nor provide details on casualties or damage.

The IRGC said the Strait of Hormuz is Iranian territory and that its naval forces maintain full control over the waterway, adding that “outsiders” from thousands of miles away would not be allowed to interfere. It also said the “aggressor” would be punished later on Thursday.

The statement added that the strait would remain closed as long as US officials continued what it called threats, provocative rhetoric, and interference in regional maritime activities, warning that such actions would only make the situation more difficult.

UN chief expresses concern over renewed hostilities, calls for dialogue

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the US and Iran to cease fighting and return to diplomacy, according to a spokesman.

“The Secretary-General has been worried for some time that if the parties do not return to negotiations, you could have a widening of the conflict, and that seems to be what has been happening in recent hours,” Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters in New York.

“These are not positive developments, and he wants to make sure that the parties can cease fighting and again return to the diplomatic efforts, including the mediation efforts being pressed forward by Pakistan, Qatar and others.”

Jordan downs Iranian missiles, pledges to do what it takes to secure country

Jordan’s Armed Forces have released a statement saying they have intercepted and destroyed five missiles in Jordanian airspace, fired from Iran.

The forces reported no casualties so far, but say they remain on a high state of alert and are ready to do what it takes to secure the country and the safety of its citizens.

This targeted attack by Iran comes just a day after Jordan confirmed it had intercepted five other missiles on Wednesday morning, also in its airspace, which were launched from Iran.

Now, Iran said it was targeting a US airbase and command headquarters in Jordan. It says it was in response to aggression by the US military. Those missiles were also intercepted and destroyed.

That attack was widely condemned by GCC countries on Wednesday. These attacks on Jordan and also the events of Wednesday, when Saudi Arabia launched retaliatory strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq, are causing some concern in this region now.

There is a worry that this war is widening and dragging other countries into it. And that’s exactly what GCC countries want to avoid. So they are working hard behind the scenes to kind of push diplomatic solutions to this crisis, despite the fact that the two sides, the US and Iran, seem very intransigent at the moment.

Kuwait says one worker killed after Iranian attack targets building belonging to Chinese company

Kuwait’s Defense Ministry has announced that one worker has been killed in an Iranian attack that targeted a building belonging to a Chinese company in the north of the country.

Major General Saud Abdulaziz al-Otaibi said the attack had caused significant material damage to the building and that authorities had begun taking the necessary measures to deal with the incident.

Al-Otaibi added that the armed forces “affirm the continued execution of their missions and duties with high efficiency, and the taking of all necessary measures to protect the sovereignty of the homeland, preserve its security and stability, in coordination with the competent authorities, in a manner that preserves the safety of citizens and residents”.

IRGC pledges to carry out attacks on ‘aggressor’ today

Iran’s Fars news agency has quoted the IRGC public relations office as saying: “With the help of God Almighty, the aggressor will be punished today.”

The IRGC’s comments come after the US announced it had launched “powerful” attacks on Iran overnight, with explosions heard in Qeshm, Kish, Bandar Abbas, Abadan and Bushehr.

Egypt says drone caused fire on two ships at Damietta port

Egypt says a fire that damaged two ships at the Mediterranean port of Damietta on Wednesday was caused by a drone, its first official attribution that a blaze on the vessels was caused by an attack.

In a statement, the Egyptian Cabinet said initial investigations had determined the July 29 fire was caused by a drone, but that no party had claimed responsibility. It said authorities were investigating the circumstances of the strike to protect Egypt’s interests and national security.

The incident struck a US-owned floating gas storage tanker, according to maritime security firm Ambrey, with the fire spreading to a second vessel. No injuries were reported.

The reported strike raised concerns of a widening of the regional conflict, which has seen Iranian attacks on US-linked assets across several countries. It would mark the first such incident on Egyptian soil since the war began. Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry had earlier confirmed the fire without identifying a cause.

Egypt has energy alternatives after drone attack on Damietta gas vessel: PM

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly says Egypt has secured alternatives to cover its energy needs after a drone attack on Wednesday damaged a gas vessel at Damietta port.

No group has claimed responsibility, and authorities are continuing their investigation, he added.

The attack comes at a critical moment for Egypt’s energy infrastructure. As Houthi attacks disrupt Red Sea shipping and the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, its Suez Canal and SUMED pipeline have emerged as key rerouting options for Gulf oil bound for Asia, with several tankers already diverting through Egyptian waterways to bypass Bab el-Mandeb entirely.

Any disruption to Egypt’s own energy infrastructure adds a further complication to an already strained regional supply chain, with analysts warning that Suez-based workarounds are costlier and slower than direct routes, but increasingly necessary as both regional chokepoints face security threats.

Egypt denies reports Iran involved in Damietta port attack

Egypt’s information minister has denied a report by The Wall Street Journal that claimed the Egyptian government believes Iran was behind the drone attack on two ships in Damietta Port yesterday.

Drone strikes ignited fires on two natural gas vessels at the Egyptian port, according to UK maritime security firm Ambrey. The Egyptian government confirmed that the attack was carried out by drone.

Iran’s FM says Egypt’s security is ‘of utmost importance to us’

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reacted to the targeting of two ships in Egypt’s Damietta port, casting blame on “false-flag operations”.

“Egypt is an important friend and partner in the region, and its security is of utmost importance to us,” he wrote on X.

Cairo confirmed a drone damaged the vessels, but said authorities were investigating the circumstances and that no party had claimed responsibility. Yemen’s Houthis later denied any link to the incident.

The foreign minister appeared to implicate Israel without evidence, writing “we must all be vigilant against Israeli plots and false-flag operations designed to undermine regional peace.”

Palestine condemns reported attack on ships in Egypt’s Damietta Port

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has condemned the drone attack on two ships in Egypt’s Damietta Port, expressing “full solidarity” with Egypt and backing the measures it is taking to protect its security and sovereignty.

In a statement, the ministry said the security and stability of Egypt are “an integral part of the region’s security”, adding that “any aggression targeting its sovereignty or security represents a violation of international law and a threat to regional security and peace”.

The statement comes after several countries, including Qatar, condemned the attack on the vessels in the Egyptian port.

Saudi Arabia condemns drone attack on ships in Egypt’s Damietta Port

Saudi Arabia has condemned the drone attack that caused a fire on board two ships in Egypt’s Damietta Port, expressing its “full solidarity” with Cairo.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the kingdom supports “all measures” taken by Egypt “to preserve its sovereignty and protect its security and interests”.

Saudi Arabia is the latest country to condemn the reported attack, following similar statements from Qatar, the Arab League and the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.

Netanyahu suggests predicting Iran’s actions in Strait of Hormuz was not possible

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells ABC News that predicting Iran’s actions regarding global commerce in the Strait of Hormuz was not possible.

“I thought they could do it, but I thought they’d also have to consider what would be the consequences if they do it, and nobody could predict that with accuracy,” Netanyahu said. “Everybody in the world today understands what a grave danger Iran poses to the peace of the world.”

Netanyahu argued that the waterway will lose its strategic power if energy flows are rerouted.

“I don’t think the straits are going to be that powerful a leverage because people will move the energy pipelines out of the straits to the Red Sea, from there to Israel in the Mediterranean. We can unblock this chokehold, and we will,” he said.

Based on official documents declassified in 2014, and writings from , we are able to mention:

During the six-day war in June 1967, the Israeli general Moshe Dayan had to face huge losses in the Sinai desert. He went to the then-prime minister Golda Meir to ask approval to use nuclear weapons. Meir furiously said "NO!"

So, the Israelis have resorted to a grave danger to peace, notably in the region. They proved again a year later by saying at the UNGA: "Make sure that no enemy has a reactor," while no country saw in another country a nuclear enemy but the Israelis. That phrase has currently become Trump's version "Iran must not have nuclear weapons."

Netanyahu has been demonizing Iran for more than 30 years.

Pakistan says efforts continuing to bring US, Iran back under MoU

Pakistan says it is doing its “utmost” to bring Iran and the US back to the table under a memorandum of understanding of which Islamabad is a signatory.

“We are doing our utmost to bring all parties back to the Islamabad MoU,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi told reporters.

He added that Pakistan was encouraging the countries to “fully adhere to their commitments to hold technical talks” under the agreement.

Following tit-for-tat attacks, the US and Iran announced that the interim agreement had collapsed.

‘Restarting this war was clearly a mistake’- analyst

Renewed US strikes on Iran appear driven by retaliation rather than any coherent strategy, and are failing to force Tehran back to the negotiating table, according to Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

“What is Trump’s endgame here with these strikes? Because they don’t appear to be forcing Iran back to the negotiating table, at least not yet. I don’t think there’s any other objective at this point than retaliation. So, restarting this war was clearly a mistake,” Parsi said.

“Trump’s options militarily are really, really bad. This is part of the reason why it’s surprising that he restarted the war without actually having developed better options. We know now, after 13 days of bombing campaigns, that there really wasn’t much of a strategy behind it.”

Iran’s own escalation was a calculated attempt at deterrence, he added.

“The Iranians have come to the conclusion, rightly or wrongly, that Trump will never be serious about diplomacy until he fully realizes that he does not have any military option,” he said. “The pathway to peace is not directly through negotiations. It has to first take a detour of eliminating in his mind that there is a military option.”

Saudi Arabia ‘strongly condemns’ Iranian attack on Jordan

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has expressed its “strongest condemnation” of Iran’s continued attacks on Jordan, the Saudi news agency SPA reports.

In a statement, the ministry reiterated its solidarity with Jordan and “all measures taken against the Iranian attacks, which violate international law and the principles of good neighborliness”.

“The kingdom stressed the importance of an immediate halt to the blatant Iranian attacks on Jordan and other countries in the region, emphasizing the need to take serious steps to preserve the security and stability of the region’s countries and their peoples,” it added.

Arab states want to avoid direct confrontation in the Iran war

Arab states in close proximity to the Iran-Israel conflict are united by a single overriding aim – keeping themselves out of it, according to Zeidon Alkinani, founding director of the Arab Perspectives Institute and a non-resident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.

That restraint, Alkinani argues, is a deliberate and publicly stated objective shared across the region.

“One common interest, and one common objective, that has been very public and very strong amongst all the Arab states that are geographically very close to this conflict is to ensure they avoid any direct confrontation, and not fall into this rabbit hole of ending up being part of the tit-for-tat attacks,” he said.

The warring parties are pulling the other way, trying to widen rather than contain the conflict. “It seems like there’s two common objectives and common interests between Iran and Israel in this conflict, despite the direct confrontation with one another, which is that they’re trying to ensure that it becomes even more multilateral,” he said.

“Iran wants the Arab Gulf states to feel that their existential security frameworks are connected; we’ve always discussed how Israel wants to ensure that it gives a geopolitical indication to the world, and particularly to Iran, that the Levant, and the countries of the greater Israel project, are their regional geopolitical neighborhood, [that they are] a red line.”

Iranian oil sales continue in Southeast Asia despite blockade

The Iranian crude oil tanker Humanity sailed through the Strait of Malacca and past Singapore last Saturday, before veering northeast towards the coast of Malaysia where it turned off its automatic identification system (AIS).

Satellite tracking data showed the 330-meter (1,083-ft) tanker arrived at the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) of Malaysia, a 1,200 square kilometer (463 square mile) expanse of water in the South China Sea about 70km (43 miles) offshore.

Maritime security experts say the Humanity likely went “dark” as it was preparing to offload its cargo of Iranian oil in a ship-to-ship transfer to a waiting middleman. They say the cargo’s ultimate destination is likely China, which historically buys about 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports, according to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

Iran’s IRGC says three members killed in US missile attack

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps say three of its personnel were killed in a US missile attack, according to a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The IRGC’s Zanjan province branch, Ansar al-Mahdi, identified the slain fighters as Mahmoud Mollajabari, Mohammadreza Cheraghi and Jamal Amiri. It said they died on July 30 while “defending Iran’s borders and people” in what it described as a “brutal attack by the criminal terrorist regime of the United States”.

The IRGC offered condolences to the supreme leader, the families of the deceased, and the Iranian public, while condemning the strike.

Sultan of Oman, British PM discuss regional developments during call

The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, spoke to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and discussed the recent developments in the region, Oman’s news agency reports.

The report added that the two leaders discussed ways to achieve calm and prevent escalation, “lay the foundations of peace and security.”

IRGC says attack on Jordan’s al-Azraq airbase destroyed 3 US F-35s

In a statement directed to Jordan, the IRGC says in response to a US attack on Qeshm island that killed two parents and their child, aerospace fighters targeted a ramp and maintenance shed at the al-Azraq airbase, which hosts US F-35 fighter jets, with several ballistic missiles, state news agency Fars reports.

The IRGC said that it had completely destroyed three F-35 aircraft and caused “heavy damage” to three others.

“A number of enemy officers and technical and maintenance personnel were also killed in this attack. Our region is no place for the infanticidal army that cruelly slaughters innocent families in the middle of the night while they sleep,” the IRGC said.

They added that their struggle, along with Jordan’s, will continue until “the last American occupier is expelled from the Islamic lands”.

US military denies that Iran’s attack on Jordan airbase destroyed F-35s

The US military has rejected a claim from Iran’s IRGC that its attack on al-Azraq airbase in Jordan destroyed three US F-35 aircraft and caused “heavy damage” to three others.

“No US aircraft were destroyed or damaged in recent attempted Iranian attacks,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote on X. “All missiles and drones were intercepted or failed to reach targeted areas.”

CENTCOM also denied that a commercial oil tanker, the M/T Nora, had “broken through” the recently reimposed US blockade on Iranian ports.

“More than 20 US warships, hundreds of aircraft, and thousands of service members remain vigilant and continue to fully enforce the blockade,” the statement added.

Qatari LNG tanker passes through Strait of Hormuz

A Qatari LNG vessel has passed through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time in three weeks, after one of its tankers was targeted in the waterway.

According to the Iranian Fars news outlet, the vessel passed through the Iranian-approved route after gaining permission from Tehran.

According to ship tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, the vessel sailed through the Strait of Hormuz with its transponder turned on and was entering the Gulf of Oman.

MarineTraffic data also showed that the vessel was heading to Pakistan.

Talks with Oman officials over Strait of Hormuz are ongoing, says Iran FM spokesperson

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson says talks with Oman were continuing through several rounds, while blaming the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and disruption to international shipping on US and Israeli military actions.

Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the discussions with Omani officials, which began last week in Tehran, were ongoing and that further meetings had been held on Thursday.

“What is clear is that currently, the Strait of Hormuz is closed due to American actions and the insecurity that America has imposed on this waterway,” Baghaei told the ILNA news agency. “International shipping is being harmed and damaged solely because of American actions.”

He said the situation was the result of “military aggression” by the US and Israel that began on March 28 and continues in various forms. Baghaei cited attacks on Iranian vessels, what he called an illegal blockade of ports and transit routes, and continuing strikes against Iran.

Qatar condemns Iranian attacks on Jordan and Kuwait

Qatar strongly condemned renewed Iranian attacks on Jordan and Kuwait on Thursday, describing them as a “flagrant violation” of both countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity and a breach of international law and the UN Charter.

In a Foreign Ministry statement, Qatar warned that the attacks risked widening regional escalation and undermining diplomatic efforts to contain tensions. It called for an immediate end to all military actions and a return to dialogue and negotiations.

“The continuation of these attacks constitutes a dangerous escalation that will complicate efforts to contain tensions and undermine political and diplomatic endeavours aimed at achieving security and stability in the region,” the ministry said.

Qatar reaffirmed its full solidarity with Jordan and Kuwait and its support for measures taken to protect their sovereignty and security.

Jordan calls deadly attack on Kuwait a ‘flagrant violation’ of sovereignty

Jordan has condemned as “brutal” an Iranian attack on Kuwait that killed one person after it hit a building belonging to a Chinese company.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X that the attack was a “flagrant violation” of Kuwait’s sovereignty, a “threat to its security and stability and the safety of its territories, and a blatant breach of international law and the United Nations Charter”.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs affirmed in a statement Jordan’s absolute solidarity with the sisterly State of Kuwait, and its standing with it in all steps it takes to protect its sovereignty and security and stability and the safety of its citizens and residents therein,” it added.

GCC chief condemns Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Jordan

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi has strongly condemned renewed Iranian attacks on the territories of Kuwait and Jordan, describing them as a flagrant violation of sovereignty and international law.

In a statement, Albudaiwi said the attacks represented a dangerous escalation threatening regional security and stability. He affirmed the full solidarity of GCC member states with the two countries and their support for all measures taken to protect their security and sovereignty.

Arab League condemns drone attack on ships in Egypt’s Damietta

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has condemned the targeting of two ships in the Egyptian port of Damietta, warning against what he described as “cowardly attempts to expand the scope of the conflict in the region”.

Earlier, we reported that Egypt said a drone damaged two ships at the Mediterranean port on Wednesday. It added that authorities were investigating the circumstances of the strike and that no party had claimed responsibility.

Iran says hostile drone downed over Imam Khomeini port

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down a hostile drone over the southwestern port city of Bandar Imam Khomeini in the early hours of Thursday, according to a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency.

The IRGC’s local unit said the unmanned aircraft was intercepted and destroyed in the city’s airspace.

Debris from the downed drone crashed into a home in Bandar Imam Khomeini, but the incident resulted in no loss of life, the statement said.

After the drone was identified, an IRGC ordnance disposal team secured the wreckage, neutralized any potential hazards, and removed it from the site, Tasnim reported.

Why the Iran-US pause collapsed

The days-long pause in the Iran-US confrontation collapsed because neither side was willing to make meaningful concessions, according to Zeidon Alkinani, founding director of the Arab Perspectives Institute and a non-resident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.

“The disagreements are very heavy, and concessions from either side, in a drastic, symbolic way, seem to be very limited,” he said.

Alkinani traced the breakdown to disputes baked into the MoU that underpinned the truce, chief among them the Strait of Hormuz. The memorandum, he said, “appeared and emerged out of a very heavily intensified conflict, as a temporary ceasefire to calm things down”, leaving the war’s core disagreements intact and still “intensified”.

Both sides, he argued, are keeping military and diplomatic tracks open at once, each hoping to emerge claiming a win.

“I think what’s happening is that both Iran and the US have had very heavy responsibilities on their shoulders,” he said.

“On one hand, they need to conduct a military confrontation to ensure they have that symbolic power in the region and beyond.

“On the other hand, they also want to ensure that they benefit from the regional mediation efforts and the channels of communication, to ensure that they would still want to get out of this war in a peaceful way.”

‘Iranian control over Strait of Hormuz remains quite formidable’: Analyst

Iran retains formidable control over the Strait of Hormuz, with shipping traffic reduced to almost nothing after 13 days of bombing and a settlement remains out of reach because neither side yet sees the conflict as ripe for diplomacy, according to Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

“The Iranian position in terms of controlling the strait remains quite formidable,” Parsi said. “The traffic in this waterway is essentially down to zero at this point.

“After 13 days of bombings, we’ve seen absolutely no progress in the sense that ships will actually be going through the strait, or that the Iranians are losing control over it.”

Parsi said a settlement remained out of reach because both sides still believed they could improve their position militarily.

“There has to be a negotiated settlement, but it appears again that the ripeness of this conflict, in order for diplomacy to succeed, has not yet occurred, because both sides believe that they can achieve a better position for themselves through a little bit more military action.”

IRGC claims attack on US military base in Kuwait

The IRGC has claimed responsibility for an attack this morning on the Ali al-Salem military base in Kuwait which hosts US forces.

Two drone hangars and a fuel tank for aircraft and military helicopters were set on fire and destroyed, said a statement reported by the Tasnim news agency.

US Senate set to consider another Iran war powers resolution

At 15:30 GMT, or 11:30am Eastern time, the US Senate will meet to consider a new version of a War Powers Resolution that would compel the US president to end the conflict with Iran – unless he gets official congressional approval for a declaration of war.

Congress has struggled to pass this. Democrats overwhelmingly have voted to constrain the president’s conduct of this war, while Republicans have largely stood with the president – even though in recent weeks, during other votes on similar resolutions, we have seen three or four Republicans vote with Democrats.

But it’s not enough to tip the balance to send a message to the White House that it needs to comply with the terms of the 1973 War Powers Act.

Whether or not it passes really comes down to how many Republicans are willing to cross the aisle.

China rejects report of air-defense missile shipment to Iran

China has denied a Reuters report that Iran was poised to receive 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defense missile launchers within weeks, calling the account “not true and not factual at all”.

Reuters had cited unnamed official sources that claimed Iran was to receive air-defense systems from China.

According to the report, the initial deliveries would be flown from Urumqi in western China and transit through Pakistan before reaching Iran.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular news briefing in Beijing that China had made “its position clear on relevant issues on multiple occasions”.

“The reports are not true and not factual at all,” she said, adding that Beijing “always works for peace and the end of the conflict”.

Pakistan, named in the report as a transit route for the shipment, had issued its own denial a day earlier. Its military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, told Anadolu that “all such speculations are baseless and devoid of truth” and were “categorically rejected”.

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.

Oil prices drop amid Iran-Oman discussions on Hormuz

Oil prices have ticked downward as Tehran and Muscat trade proposals for an agreement governing the management of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.

Brent futures fell $1.42, or 1.56 percent, at $89.32 a barrel just before 13:30 GMT after hitting a high of $93.31.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures lost $1.14, or 1.35 percent, at $83.32, after reaching a high of $85.94.

“The fact that Oman is in talks with Iran could suggest that progress is being made on re-opening the Strait of Hormuz,” said Hamad Hussain, a climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics.

Iran holds funeral for recently recovered pilot killed in March bombing mission

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has paid tribute to an Iranian air force pilot killed during a mission in March, as funeral services began in Iran.

In a statement posted on X, Baghaei said funeral processions were under way for Second Brigadier-General Pilot Majid Kazemi, whose remains were recently recovered and identified.

Kazemi was among four crew members on board two Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Su-24 bombers involved in an attack on March 2, 2026. Iranian military officials said the aircraft were hit by air defense systems over the Gulf.

Baghaei noted that authorities are still searching for, or seeking to identify, the three remaining crew members.

Saudi defense minister ‘makes the case for de-escalation’ during Trump meeting

This meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman – the brother of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman – was added to the president’s schedule after Khalid met Vice President JD Vance.

He’d already been scheduled to meet with Vance to talk about the Saudi perspective on the US-Iran war, and to make the case for de-escalation – basically, looking at the long-term of the greater Middle East. Having this war continue not only jeopardizes people’s lives, but also jeopardizes regional security, economic growth and Saudi Arabia’s effort to get along with its neighbors.

There had been a very loose attempt by the Saudis to see how it could co-exist with Iran after decades of open rivalry – but certainly, this was the message the prince was bringing to JD Vance.

The meeting with the president was added afterwards, as a last-minute addition, and apparently, the prince used the meeting to deliver a message from the crown prince about the need for de-escalation and to give the Saudi perspective on how this conflict can be resolved.

Iran says it urged Bulgaria to review reported US airbase access

Iran says Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has spoken with his Bulgarian counterpart, Velislava Petrova, criticizing Sofia’s reported approval for the United States to use Bezmer Air Base for military purposes.

According to the Iranian government on X, Araghchi urged Bulgaria to review the decision, while it added that Bulgaria’s foreign minister said the country “will not take part in the conflict” and supports diplomacy and de-escalation.

The reported exchange comes as Iran continues to warn countries against facilitating US military operations amid its attacks on US assets in the Middle East.

On June 24, 2026, NATO has been found a co-belligerent of the United States as the attacking belligerent in the war on Iran after Mark Rutte said Rome allowed 500 U.S. military aircraft to take off from American bases in Italy. The country is a member state of the alliance.

The comment prompted the Italian defense minister saying that Italy only allowed technical and logistical operations, while these activities are preparatory for attacks in Iran. That already makes Italy a co-belligerent thus at least responsible under states' responsibility law.

Both NATO and individual member states, including Germany (!) also violate the UN Charter, as the US is not attacked by Iran but has been attacking Iran since February 28th. It has no mandate from the UNSC thus illegal, while Trump's motive is clear: it is political as he is known for saying that Iran must not have nuclear weapons. That is a violation of Iran's sovereignty.

Bulgaria, also a NATO member states, should realize that it may also violate the UN Charter and international law if it allows itself to become a co-belligerent of the United States.

Iran signaling it will continue targeting US assets

It appears the Iranians are going to continue with their strategy of asserting their right to respond while also trying to penetrate air defenses. In Kuwait, the attacks have had an impact, with one Chinese worker killed.

These attacks are becoming more frequent, more brazen and are increasingly taking place during daylight hours rather than under the cover of night. It appears the Iranians want to send the message that they are still standing and will continue to target US interests, not just in Kuwait, but in Jordan as well.

But the difference between these and previous attacks is the type of munitions being used. While the majority have been intercepted over Jordanian skies, they have shown they have the capability and capacity to strike Jordanian air bases as well, as demonstrated by the killing of US service members.

This is becoming the new normal. But it is also a measured response rather than an all-out war, with attacks that remain calibrated against targets and are still being predominantly intercepted.

Two-thirds of US adults say war ‘not worth fighting’

Most Americans say the US-Israel war on Iran has not been worth fighting, according to a new poll conducted by The Associated Press news agency and nonpartisan research organization NORC.

Roughly two-thirds of US adults said the war has not been worthwhile, a figure that includes the vast majority of Democrats and independents and about 37 percent of Republicans, the AP reported.

The poll was conducted July 23-27, during a brief pause in fighting after a nearly two-week escalation.

Trump’s approval rating, meanwhile, is about 33 percent, slightly below where he stood at this point in his first term.

Why did Iran reject Oman’s Hormuz proposal?

Sultan Barakat, professor of public policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, weighed in on Iran’s rejection of Oman’s plan to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

“I think it was a mistake to reject it outright,” Barakat said. “They should have taken their time and used it as an opportunity to deepen negotiations with Oman — and by extension, with the Gulf states, many of which have already endorsed the Omani proposal, which is an important step.”

Barakat explained that Oman’s plan proposed two routes, each usable for inbound and outbound vessels, with optional payments to be set by shipping companies themselves.

Because ship owners would naturally gravitate towards the free route closest to the coast of Oman, traffic would be pulled into Omani territorial waters over time.

“That’s what Iran objected to,” he added. Tehran wants a system with a separate inbound and outbound route, and wants control specifically over the inbound lane — allowing it to monitor military vessels entering the strait.

Barakat said that the recent US-Iran strikes have made the conflict more dangerous, pointing to the last three weeks as evidence of “bad implementation of what was a vague understanding”.

Oman’s proposal would have split transit routes evenly between Iran and Oman, funded by voluntary shipping fees.

Iran instead countered with its own plan giving Tehran control over one full transit lane and part of the return route, arguing the 50-50 split failed to address its security concerns.

Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said the strait would stay closed if Oman rejects Iran’s counterproposal.

Iran’s army says it struck US assets at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa base

Iran’s army said it launched an attack on US assets at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base, according to state media.

Sheikh Isa hosts key facilities for the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian forces during the war.

There’s no confirmation from US or Bahraini authorities on this latest claim.

US Senate Republicans block resolution to halt Iran war

Senate Republicans have blocked an effort to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to continue military action against Iran. The measure would have required Trump to end US hostilities unless it was authorised by Congress.

The Senate voted 50-49 against advancing the measure, which sought to require congressional approval for continued US involvement in the conflict.

Republican Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul joined Democrats in supporting the resolution, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted with most Republicans to block it.

US Treasury sanctions entities it says linked to Iran’s Mahan Air

The US Treasury has issued a handful of new sanctions against entities it claims are connected to Iran’s private carrier Mahan Air.

The newly designated entities include three travel and logistics companies in China and India, as well as a Russia-based cargo company and an Iranian startup studio, according to the Treasury’s latest listings.

Washington sanctioned Mahan Air in 2011 on the grounds that it provided services to Iran’s IRGC. The European Union also sanctioned the airline in 2024, accusing it of supplying drones and missiles to Russia.

Iran’s Baghaei condemns US attack on Qeshm, says Iran ‘determined and united’

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has railed against the US attack that killed a couple and their two-year-old child on Qeshm island.

The attack destroyed several houses and killed a taxi driver, Qeysar Jafari, his wife Zahra Jafari and their child, Baghaei wrote on X.

“With every explosion, with every crime, with every sanction, with every threat, with the killing of every child, you make Iranians more determined and united in defending their homeland,” he said.

The world at risk of another energy shock

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively halted, and energy tankers are now avoiding another critical waterway – Bab al-Mandeb – as Yemen’s Houthi forces threaten Saudi-linked vessels.

Ukrainian strikes have hit Russian export infrastructure, leaving three major routes now disrupted at once: the Gulf, the Red Sea and the Black Sea. Together, they threaten trade flows equivalent to nearly a quarter of global oil supplies just as reserves sit at multiyear lows.

Goldman Sachs says oil could rise above $120 a barrel by the fourth quarter if disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz alone persist, and economies worldwide are bracing for another energy shock.

Iran’s parliament speaker says US will ‘pay the price’ for Qeshm killings

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the killing of a couple and a child on Qeshm island is a “continuation of the atrocities in Minab and Lamerd“.

At least 170 people were killed when a US-Israeli strike hit a primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab on the first day of the war. A sport hall in the southwestern Iranian city of Lamerd was also hit that day, killing at least 24 people.

Ghalibaf wrote on X that the US has “grown accustomed to making up for the slaps they receive on the battlefield by spilling the blood of the innocent”.

“They will pay the price,” he said.

‘Further US-Iran escalation now pointless’

The US and Iran have reached a point where further escalation is pointless and will only prolong the suffering of both countries and their neighbors, says Barbara Leaf, a former US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs.

“Both sides have reached a point where they can escalate further, but to no particular strategic benefit for either side,” Leaf told Al Jazeera.

“At this point, escalation is fairly pointless, because it is not delivering a decisive win for either side, except prolonging the agony. So this is the time when the two sides should de-escalate”.

"..will only prolong the suffering of both countries.."

The United States is not suffering because Iran's attacks cannot reach the American continent. The attacks limit to US bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain from where attacks on Iran are either logistical supported and or carrying out.

If the "suffering" refers to casualties among US troops in the region, they are a consequence inflicted by a president who have let himself dragged in a war that is not those of the United States; has no UNSC mandate, and violates core articles of the UN Charter and international law.

Drone hangars, fuel depot destroyed at US base in Kuwait: IRGC

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has destroyed two drone hangars and a fuel storage facility for military aircraft and helicopters at the US Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait, according to a statement reported by Iranian state-owned media.

The statement addressed the people of Kuwait, saying Iran’s attacks will continue until the expulsion of US “occupying and looting forces” from the region.