Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said they attacked Gulf states overnight and targeted US military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan as Washington and Tehran both contested the control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Missile alert sirens sounded at dawn on Monday in Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. The IRGC said it hit the US base at Sheikh Isa in Bahrain in its second phase of retaliatory strikes.
The IRGC said it fired missiles and drones at fuel tanks and ammunition depots, setting them on fire at Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, calling these attacks the first phase of response to the US attacks on Iranian coastal bases.
Just hours earlier, the US military announced it has launched more strikes on Iran “to hold Iranian forces accountable” as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz escalate.
The Central Command said Iran “does not control it”.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade.”
But Iran’s IRGC countered: “The Strait of Hormuz is our territory, and we will not allow a rogue and child-killing army from the other side of the world to continue its illegal interference in it.”
Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press, Trump said on Sunday: “They agreed to a deal yesterday – a perfect deal for us, no nuclear, no this, no that, no nothing, they gave up everything – and then after that, they left the room, and then within an hour they launched a drone at a ship.”
"We bombed the hell out of them last night. They are very, very evil and sick people," he added.
Key Points
- Iran's IRGC says it attacked Kuwait and Jordan, targeted US military bases
- Hegseth says Iran will 'pay' for making 'a poor choice' in ominous social media post
- US and Iran assert they still control Strait of Hormuz
- The era of one-sided deals is over, says Iran's chief negotiator
- US demands Iran tell public Strait of Hormuz is open and safe: report
- Trump declares Iran ‘Cease Fire is OVER!’
- Traffic comes to a halt at Strait of Hormuz
Missiles shot down from Iran, says Jordan
05:25 , Arpan Rai
The Jordanian military said it has intercepted and shot down at least four missiles that entered its airspace from Iran, reported state news agency.
US and Iran assert they still control Strait of Hormuz
04:57 , Arpan Rai
The United States and Iran each asserted today that they controlled the Strait of Hormuz after a weekend of attacks stretching across the wider Middle East, further threatening any diplomacy to end the war.
The US military’s Central Command described its forces as hitting dozens of sites in the strikes today, including air defence systems, radar sites, missile and drone equipment and small boats.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade,” Central Command said.
“Iran does not control it.”
Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a key power center in the country's theocracy that controls its ballistic missile arsenal, sharply rejected America's statement.
“The Strait of Hormuz is our territory, and we will not allow a rogue and child-killing army from the other side of the world to continue its illegal interference in it,” the Guard said.
Iran's IRGC says it attacked Kuwait and Jordan, targeted US military bases
04:25 , Arpan Rai
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have said they have attacked Gulf states overnight and targeted US military bases.
Missile alert sirens sounded at dawn Monday in Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. There was no immediate word on damage.
The IRGC said it hit the US base at Sheikh Isa in Bahrain in its second phase of retaliatory strikes.
It added that it fired missiles and drones at fuel tanks and ammunition depots, setting them on fire at Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan.
The strikes were the first phase of response to the US attacks on Iranian coastal bases, the IRGC said.
Shares once again plummet in Asia as oil climbs on Gulf conflict
04:14 , Arpan Rai
Share markets slid in Asia this morning as fighting intensified in the Gulf and Iran claimed to have closed the vital Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices surging and rekindling inflation risks globally.
The dollar rose with bond yields as investors narrowed the odds of a hike in interest rates from the Federal Reserve, just a day before Chair Kevin Warsh is due to face Congress for the first time in his new role.
Inflation figures for June on Tuesday could show some cooling in the headline rate of 4.2 per cent as petrol prices decline, though some of that will reverse now that oil is rising anew.
Brent crude climbed 4.1 per cent to reach $79.11 a barrel, up from the recent trough of $70.14, while US crude added 4.1 per cent to $74.37 a barrel.
US officials said around 20 vessels had been escorted through the strait in the previous 24 hours, though ship tracking sites showed little traffic moving.
Equity investors will be hoping the earnings season proves as upbeat as forecast with the major banks kicking off from Tuesday, while Netflix and General Electric are also on the docket.
“Tech continues to screen highly in our models, supported by stand out earnings growth/momentum and attractive valuations,” wrote analysts at Citi in a note.
“While AI volatility may remain elevated over the coming quarter, we maintain our Overweight stance on global IT and the US," they added.
S&P 500 futures eased 0.4 per cent, while Nasdaq futures lost 0.9 per cent.
In Europe, EUROSTOXX 50 futures and DAX futures both fell 0.6 per cent, while FTSE futures dipped 0.1 per cent.
Japan's Nikkei fell 1.6 per cent, having shed 1.7 per cent last week, while MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 0.9 per cent.
US says it has ended latest round of airstrikes on Iran after Tehran strikes Gulf states
03:54 , Arpan Rai
The US military said today it ended its latest wave of strikes targeting Iran, insisting that Tehran does not control the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military’s Central Command said in a statement that it hit air defence systems, radar sites, missile and drone equipment and small boats.
Central Command said it used fighter jets, ships, aerial drones and naval drones for the first time.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade,” Central Command said.
“Iran does not control it.”
It added: “US forces are postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping despite Iran’s continued unwarranted aggression, harassment, threats and arbitrary declarations.”
US Senator Lindsey Graham joked about Iranian threats days before his death
01:00 , Rhian Lubin
Lindsey Graham, the US senator who died suddenly on Saturday night, joked about the threats he had received from Iran in the days before his death.
In a July 6 post on X, the Republican lawmaker shared an image that appeared to show a man in Tehran holding a sign emblazoned with a bullseye over Graham’s face, alongside the message: “SOONER OR LATER YOUR HEADS WILL ROLL.”
“At least they used a good photo of me,” Graham wrote. “Judge me by my enemies.”
Five days later, emergency dispatch audio indicated that paramedics were called to the four-term senator’s Washington, D.C., home around 8:30 p.m. Saturday in response to a cardiac arrest.
US launches several waves of strikes on Iran as Tehran hits Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Oman
Monday 13 July 2026 00:00 , AP
The United States launched several waves of strikes on Iran on Sunday over an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz that set it ablaze and left a crew member missing earlier in the weekend.
Iran responded with attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Oman — the nation on the other side of the strait that Tehran has pressed to collaborate in managing shipping traffic.
The U.S. military said it was seeking “to degrade” Iran’s “ability to attack commercial ships freely transiting” the strait. The statement came after a third round of strikes late Sunday night and into Monday in Iran.
Iranian state media acknowledged the latest attacks early Monday, describing explosions in several locations.
The first wave of strikes, on Sunday morning, was in response to an Iranian strike on a container ship in the critical waterway the day before. In response, Iran hit Gulf Arab states in an escalating cycle of violence that left the negotiations between Tehran and Washington to end the war at the edge of collapse.
US Central Command confirms Trump orders more strikes on Iran
Sunday 12 July 2026 23:29 , Rhian Lubin
US Central Command confirmed that President Donald Trump ordered more strikes on Iran tonight, as tensions escalate over the Strait of Hormuz.
“At 5 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching more strikes against Iran to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.
“The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable.”
At 5 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching more strikes against Iran to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 12, 2026
Ex-Trump aide is shredded by Scott Jennings in on-air Iran war debate: ‘I’m sorry you don’t read much’
Sunday 12 July 2026 23:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
A fiery MAGA squabble erupted Thursday night on CNN as two Republican pundits bickered over President Donald Trump’s recently restarted Iran war — with one snarking, “I’m sorry you don’t read much.”
The clash started when former Trump aide Caroline Sunshine questioned an assertion by CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings that Iran has "been at war with us for 47 years."
"I’m sorry, the first time I’ve heard about the 47-year Iran war was like this year," said Sunshine, who’s publicly opposed U.S. military action against Iran since last year.
Read more here:
Ex-Trump gets shredded by Scott Jennings over Iran war: ‘Sorry you don’t read much’
Watch: Trump says military will ‘completely decimate and destroy’ Iran if he’s assassinated
Sunday 12 July 2026 22:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Recap: Trump claims US and Iran agreed deal before 'they gave up everything' in attack
Sunday 12 July 2026 21:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Donald Trump has called Iran “evil and sick” after claiming it broke an agreed peace deal yesterday when it fired a drone at a ship.
Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press, Trump said: "They agreed to a deal yesterday - a perfect deal for us, no nuclear, no this, no that, no nothing, they gave up everything - and then after that, they left the room, and then within an hour they launched a drone at a ship.”
"We bombed the hell out of them last night. They are very, very evil and sick people," he added.
Comment: Trump’s right that Iran wants a deal – but he is far more desperate for one
Sunday 12 July 2026 20:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
The US president resumed bombing in Iran after labelling the country ‘scum’ at this week’s Nato summit. Name-calling might make him feel better – but it doesn’t change the fact that his opponent holds the cards in the Strait of Hormuz, writes Jon Sopel.
Read more here:
Trump’s right that Iran wants a deal – but he is far more desperate for one
Watch: Smoke billows from Iranian port after US launches strikes
Sunday 12 July 2026 19:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
US military says it is striking Iran in response to attack on civilian vessel in Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 July 2026 18:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Iran said it considers the Strait of Hormuz closed once again after a vessel using an ‘unauthorized route’ was struck by a warning shot in the critical waterway, further jeopardizing the already tenuous ceasefire agreement with the United States.
U.S. Central Command said a short time later that its forces began a third round of strikes against Iran.
“The United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait,” the military said.
Read more here:
US military says it is striking Iran in response to attack on civilian vessel in Strait of Hormuz
Missiles have been launched towards Qeshm Island, Iran says
Sunday 12 July 2026 17:31 , Rebecca Whittaker
Missiles were launched by the "enemy" towards Qeshm Island on Sunday afternoon, Iran's IRNA state news agency said. It adding that no casualties were reported.
It comes as several explosions were heard east of Iran’s Bandar Abbas and in the coastal area of Qeshm.
Explosions heard in southern Iran, according to reports
Sunday 12 July 2026 17:12 , Rebecca Whittaker
Several explosions have been heard east of Iran’s Bandar Abbas and in the coastal area of Qeshm, state news agency Fars is reporting.
US ambassador doesn't believe Iran attacked vessels by mistake
Sunday 12 July 2026 17:07 , Rebecca Whittaker
US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, has said he “doesn’t buy” the claim that Tehran "screwed up" targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz this week.
On Friday a US official suggested Iran had admitted that the strikes were a mistake.
But speaking to ABC Waltz said: "Are we supposed to believe that some junior officers are going rogue and firing on ships but yet face no consequences from a dictatorial hierarchy-based entity like the IRGC? I don't buy it.”
Qatar’s former ruler who abdicated after turning tiny Arab nation into global powerhouse dies at 74
Sunday 12 July 2026 16:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former ruler of Qatar who dramatically reshaped the tiny Persian Gulf nation into a global powerhouse before making the unprecedented move of voluntarily abdicating, has died at the age of 74.
State media confirmed his passing, though no cause was specified.
Read more here:
Qatar’s former ruler who abdicated voluntarily dies at 74
Trump claims US and Iran agreed deal before 'they gave up everything' in attack
Sunday 12 July 2026 15:59 , Rebecca Whittaker
Donald Trump has called Iran “evil and sick” after claiming it broke an agreed peace deal yesterday when it fired a drone at a ship.
Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press, Trump said: "They agreed to a deal yesterday - a perfect deal for us, no nuclear, no this, no that, no nothing, they gave up everything - and then after that, they left the room, and then within an hour they launched a drone at a ship.”
"We bombed the hell out of them last night. They are very, very evil and sick people," he added.
Trade minister says Strait of Hormuz should be reopened
Sunday 12 July 2026 15:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
Trade minister Chris Bryant has said the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened.
Speaking to Sky News he said: "It's a bit daft to go into a war if you don't know how you're going to get out of it"
"We want everybody to de-escalate.”
It comes as the US attacked Iran early Sunday morning over an Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran apparently responded with strikes targeting Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
How a vague clause in Trump’s peace deal led to anarchy in the Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 July 2026 15:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
The global economy is facing uncertainty after the resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran. Experts tell Maira Butt that negotiators must go back to the drawing board on the strait if disruption is to be avoided.
Read more here:
How a vague clause in Trump’s peace deal led to anarchy in the Strait of Hormuz
Pictured: People walk next to a symbolic mockup of an Iranian missile at Imam Hussein Square
Sunday 12 July 2026 14:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
UK economy set to have stayed in slow lane after Iran war held back growth
Sunday 12 July 2026 14:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
The UK’s economy is expected to have been stagnant for another month as some industries come under pressure and the Iran war continues to hold back growth.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will publish May’s gross domestic product (GDP) figures on Thursday following a period of global turbulence during the US-Israel’s war with Iran.
Some economists are expecting GDP to have flatlined or declined in May, after slipping by 0.1% in April.
Read more here:
UK economy set to have stayed in slow lane after Iran war held back growth
Recap: Donald Trump warns Iran against pursuing any assassination attempt
Sunday 12 July 2026 13:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
Donald Trump has warned Iran against any plans to assassinate him, telling Tehran that the US army would “completely decimate and destroy all areas” of the country in retaliation.
His comments come after the funeral of Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saw open calls for Mr Trump’s death.
In a post on Truth Social early on Saturday, Mr Trump wrote: “1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat, pronounced in many corners of the Globe, to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate, the sitting President of the United States of America, in this case, ME!
“Orders have already been given, and the U.S. Military is ready, willing, and able, for a one year period of time, subject to extension, to completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran – PRAISE BE TO ALLAH! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Watch: Trump says he's 'number one' on Iran's target list
Sunday 12 July 2026 13:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Recap: US attacks Iran over ship being hit in Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 July 2026 12:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
The US attacked Iran early Sunday morning over an Iranian strike on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz that set the container ship ablaze and forced its crew to abandon it.
Iran responded with attacks targeting several countries in the Gulf, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
The outburst of fighting raised new questions about efforts to reach a permanent end to the war.
The strait, a key transit route for oil and natural gas, has become the key sticking point in negotiations, and repeated fighting over the past week has left negotiations in danger of collapse.
The US military’s Central Command said it hit some 140 targets in Sunday’s strikes, far more than in the two previous rounds of attacks, and went after missile and drone launch sites, ammunition dumps, communication equipment and other sites.
It said the attacks would weaken Iran’s ability to threaten civilian shipping.“Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay,” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote online.
United Arab Emirates warns public of incoming missile and drone attack as explosions heard in Qatar
Sunday 12 July 2026 12:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
The United States attacked Iran early Sunday morning over an Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran apparently responded with strikes targeting Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The new crossfire in the Persian Gulf comes after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested an interim deal and ceasefire in the Iran war was “over.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote online: “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.”
Read more here:
United Arab Emirates warns public of incoming missile and drone attack as explosions heard in Qatar
Watch: Trump says military will ‘completely decimate and destroy’ Iran if he’s assassinated
Sunday 12 July 2026 11:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
US told to stick to agreement or 'pay the price' by Iran's top negotiator
Sunday 12 July 2026 11:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has told the US to stick to a signed agreement or “pay the price.”
He wrote in a post on X:"The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.”
The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking. pic.twitter.com/B97ogCYGaj
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) July 12, 2026
Iran's foreign minister holds call with Pakistan counterpart to discuss regional developments
Sunday 12 July 2026 10:30 , Stuti Mishra
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has spoken by phone with his Pakistani counterpart to discuss regional developments, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
Labour minister says the Strait of Hormuz ‘should be open’
Sunday 12 July 2026 10:00 , Stuti Mishra
Trade minister Chris Bryant has been asked about the Strait of Hormuz on Sky News.
He said: “The government's view is the Strait of Hormuz should be open,”
In a swipe at Donald Trump, he added that it was “a bit daft to go into a war if you don’t know how you are going to get out of it”.
Kuwait condemns Iranian attacks as 'dangerous escalation' threatening regional security
Sunday 12 July 2026 09:33 , Stuti Mishra
Kuwait has condemned Iranian missile attacks on its territory as a "dangerous escalation" that threatens regional peace and security, its foreign ministry said today.
The ministry said the attacks constituted "a grave violation of the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and the integrity of its territories, and a direct threat to its security and stability and the safety of its citizens and residents." It described the strikes as "a flagrant breach of the rules of international law and the United Nations Charter."
Kuwait said it reserved "all its rights to take what is necessary to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty" and warned that continued Iranian aggression would "undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and resolving crises through peaceful means."
وزارة الخارجية تعرب عن إدانة دولة الكويت واستنكارها الشديدين للاعتداءات الإيرانية الآثمة التي استهدفت دولة الكويت صباح اليوم
— كويت نيوز (@KuwaitNews) July 12, 2026
• مما يعكس إصراراً على نهجٍ عدائيٍ متكرر، ويمثّل انتهاكاً جسيماً لسيادة دولة الكويت وسلامة أراضيها، وتهديداً مباشراً لأمنها واستقرارها وسلامة مواطنيها… pic.twitter.com/aGDFkhraH9
Photos: US says it struck Iranian military targets
Sunday 12 July 2026 08:15 , Stuti Mishra
3 people, including 1 child, injured, Qatar says
Sunday 12 July 2026 07:45 , Stuti Mishra
Three people, including one child, has been injured from falling debris from interception operations, Qatar's ministry of interior has said.
The injured are receiving medical care, it added.
The statement, posted on X, does not mention where debris fell.
Statement from the Ministry of Interior regarding operational developments following the Iranian attacks. #MOIQatar pic.twitter.com/9CZoipLNtc
— Ministry of Interior - Qatar (@MOI_QatarEn) July 12, 2026
What has happened so far in the latest round of escalation between the US and Iran
Sunday 12 July 2026 07:15 , Stuti Mishra
- The US military struck around 140 targets in Iran early on Sunday after an Iranian attack set a Cyprus-flagged container ship ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. A civilian crew member is missing. The strikes hit missile and drone launch sites, ammunition dumps and communication equipment across southern Iranian provinces including Bushehr, Hormozgan, Khuzestan and Sistan and Baluchestan, as well as Lorestan in the west.
- Iran responded by launching missile and drone attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar's military said it intercepted the incoming fire. Missile alerts sounded in Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, while Kuwait said it was intercepting fire. The UAE warned the public of an incoming attack.
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard said multiple vessels had disregarded warnings in the strait and that one was struck by a "warning shot." Tehran said the strait would remain closed "until further notice" and threatened to target "additional enemy bases in the region" if it faced more strikes.
- The latest round of violence came after US president Donald Trump suggested an interim deal was "over". Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed in a statement on state television that Iranians would avenge the killing of his father in the war's opening strikes on 28 February.
Kuwait's Armed Forces intercepting attacks, army says
Sunday 12 July 2026 06:50 , Stuti Mishra
Kuwaiti military is currently "confronting hostile aerial targets within Kuwaiti airspace", the state media reported, quoting its armed forces a while ago.
Army officials said “any sounds of explosions are the result of air defence systems intercepting hostile attacks” and urged the public to follow instructions issued by the relevant authorities in a post on X.
The military did not specify where the attacks originated from.
تتصدى حاليا القوات المسلحة لأهداف جوية معادية داخل المجال الجوي الكويتي
— كويت نيوز (@KuwaitNews) July 12, 2026
• تنوه رئاسة الأركان العامة للجيش أن أصوات الانفجارات إن سمعت فهي نتيجة اعتراض منظومات الدفاع الجوي للهجمات المعادية pic.twitter.com/ERZSw9FELt
US says it struck 140 Iranian military targets
Sunday 12 July 2026 06:30 , Stuti Mishra
US forces completed a third round of strikes this week against Iran, the Central Command said in a post on X.
They hit approximately 140 Iranian military targets yesterday, the Central Command said, and added that targets included Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 12, 2026
The era of one-sided deals is over, says Iran's chief negotiator|
Sunday 12 July 2026 06:10 , Stuti Mishra
Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf just wrote on X: “The era of one-sided deals is OVER."
"We told you: keep your word or pay the price,” he wrote. “Reality is knocking."
The post was accompanied by an image of Article 5 of the MoU, which concerns the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with the words “the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements” highlighted.
The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking. pic.twitter.com/B97ogCYGaj
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) July 12, 2026
Iran's IRGC says second vessel hit in Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 July 2026 05:50 , Stuti Mishra
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps just said it struck and disabled a second vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted the US strategic air base at Al Udeid in Qatar with ballistic missiles, destroying its fighter jet maintenance center and command and control facility.
UAE warns people of incoming missile and drone attack as explosions heard in Qatar
Sunday 12 July 2026 05:30 , Stuti Mishra
The United Arab Emirates warned the public this morning of an incoming missile and drone attack as explosions could be heard in nearby Qatar, the Associated Press reported.
It wasn’t immediately clear where in the UAE was under attack, which so far hadn’t been targeted in the latest round of attacks by Iran.
An AP journalist heard the blasts in nearby Qatar this morning, the outlet reported. There was no immediate information about what caused them.
Meanwhile, missile alerts sounded in Bahrain, an island kingdom in the Persian Gulf home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.
UKMTO says crew abandon container ship near Oman after fire onboard
Sunday 12 July 2026 05:10 , Stuti Mishra
The crew of a container ship abandoned their vessel after military authorities reported it had sustained damage to its rear near Oman, causing a fire onboard, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said today.
The UKMTO earlier said it had received a report of an incident nine nautical miles (16.7 km) east of Oman. In an updated advisory, the agency said it had been informed by military authorities and the vessel's security officer that the crew had abandoned the vessel and were currently in a lifeboat, adding that authorities were continuing to investigate.
On Sunday, the US military launched a new round of strikes against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
"A civilian crew member is missing, and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engine room damage," the US Central Command said in a statement on X.
Iran's IRGC navy said earlier today that it had struck and halted a vessel that had "jeopardised maritime security by switching off its systems" after it, along with other vessels, attempted to transit through an unauthorised route despite warnings to correct its course.
UKMTO WARNING 083-26 UPDATE 001
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) July 12, 2026
Click here to view the full warning.⤵️https://t.co/ELsJDxjcRz#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/kJpEjBPdfQ
ICYMI: US military says it is striking Iran in response to attack on civilian vessel in Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 July 2026 04:50 , Stuti Mishra
Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was closed once again after a warning shot fired by its military struck a vessel using an unauthorised route in the critical waterway, further jeopardising the already tenuous ceasefire agreement with the United States.
US Central Command said a short time later that its forces began a third round of strikes against Iran. There were explosions in Bandar Abbas and Sirik, two towns along the shores of the strait, Iran state media reported.
“The United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait,” the American military said.
A Cyprus-flagged container ship was hit by Iran and suffered “significant engineroom damage” and a civilian crew member is missing, US Central Command said.
Senior US officials had previously said in Washington that negotiations to further cement last month's deal to end the war will be unable to progress without the strait being secure — and even said they wanted Iran to offer public statements to that effect.
Instead, the Revolutionary Guards Corps said multiple vessels "disregarded our warnings and instructions to correct their course and proceed along the approved route.” One of them “was struck by a warning shot and brought to a stop.”
Iran said that the strait would remain closed “until further notice” and said it would consider targeting “additional enemy bases in the region” if it faced more attacks.
A little more than an hour later, the US announced its own new round of strikes.
“Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay,” US defence secretary Pete Hegseth posted on social media.
The latest flurry of shots from both sides followed Iran and Oman’s foreign ministers meeting yesterday to discuss the strait that lies between them, after days of Iranian attacks on ships and US retaliation that dealt a blow to the interim deal to end the war.a
Attacks followed more diplomatic talks about the strait
Sunday 12 July 2026 04:39 , The Associated Press
The latest flurry of shots from both sides followed Iran and Oman's foreign ministers meeting on Saturday to discuss the strait that lies between them, after days of Iranian attacks on ships and U.S. retaliation that dealt a blow to the interim deal to end the war.
Iran's new supreme leader, still unseen since the war began, also vowed in his first statement since the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that Iranians would avenge his killing in the war's opening strikes on Feb. 28.
Such revenge "is the will of our nation and must certainly be carried out," Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a statement carried on state television, hours after President Donald Trump threatened more missile attacks.
Oman said it and Iran agreed to keep talking about the Strait of Hormuz "at the technical and political levels."
Trump says military will ‘completely decimate and destroy’ Iran if he’s assassinated
Sunday 12 July 2026 04:00 , Harriette Boucher
How a vague clause in Trump’s peace deal led to anarchy in the Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 July 2026 03:30 , Graig Graziosi
The future of the global economy once again rests on an 100-mile strip of water sandwiched between the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
Shipping through the vital waterway has halved following tit-for-tat strikes between the US and Iran this week, shaking the foundations of a sketchy 14-point interim peace deal between the warring nations.
It started when Iran attacked three commercial vessels passing through the Omani corridor of the Strait of Hormuz in overnight attacks on Monday.
READ MORE:
How a vague clause in Trump’s peace deal led to anarchy in the Strait of Hormuz
US military says it is striking Iran in response to attack on civilian vessel in Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 July 2026 03:00 , Graig Graziosi
Iran said it considers the Strait of Hormuz closed once again after a vessel using an ‘unauthorized route’ was struck by a warning shot in the critical waterway, further jeopardizing the already tenuous ceasefire agreement with the United States.
U.S. Central Command said a short time later that its forces began a third round of strikes against Iran.
“The United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait,” the military said.
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US military says it is striking Iran in response to attack on civilian vessel in Strait of Hormuz
Ex-Trump aide is shredded by Scott Jennings in on-air Iran war debate: ‘I’m sorry you don’t read much’
Sunday 12 July 2026 03:00 , Harriette Boucher
Senior US reporter Bruce Golding writes:
A fiery MAGA squabble erupted Thursday night on CNN as two Republican pundits bickered over President Donald Trump’s recently restarted Iran war — with one snarking, “I’m sorry you don’t read much.”
The clash started when former Trump aide Caroline Sunshine questioned an assertion by CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings that Iran has "been at war with us for 47 years."
"I’m sorry, the first time I’ve heard about the 47-year Iran war was like this year," said Sunshine, who’s publicly opposed U.S. military action against Iran since last year.
Jennings interrupted and laughingly said: "I'm sorry you don't read much. Did you just start following the news this year?"
Sunshine, a former Disney Channel teen star, then said, “We don’t teach about the 47-year war with Iran in school,” according to Mediaite.
Ex-Trump gets shredded by Scott Jennings over Iran war: ‘Sorry you don’t read much’
US may be targeting Bushehr province in latest round of attacks
Sunday 12 July 2026 02:30 , Graig Graziosi
An Al Jazeera dispatch on Saturday night said that Iranian state broadcasters were reporting “at least 12” explosions in Bushehr province.
The province is located in western Iran and borders the Strait of Hormuz.
The reports follows a new round of attacks from U.S. forces in the region.
Ehsan Jahanian, the province’s deputy governor for political, security and social affairs, reportedly said there have been no casualties in the region stemming from the attacks, according to Al Jazeera.
US Central Command says civilian is missing after container ship attack
Sunday 12 July 2026 02:00 , Graig Graziosi
U.S. Central Command said a civilian crew member aboard the Cyprus-flagged GFS Galaxy is missing after an alleged attack on the ship by Iranian forces.
The ship’s engine room was heavily damaged during the attack, according to the military.
Watch: Trump says Iran wants a deal 'so badly' after US military action
Sunday 12 July 2026 02:00 , Harriette Boucher
'Now they pay:' Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth threatens Iran
Sunday 12 July 2026 01:28 , Graig Graziosi
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth appeared to threaten further destruction in Iran on Saturday evening.
“Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay,” he wrote in a post on X.
Just minutes before his post, U.S. Central Command confirmed it had launched attacks on Iran in retaliation for an alleged Iranian attack on a civilian-crewed container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay. https://t.co/8m4fEfgrXv
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) July 11, 2026
U.S. attacks Iran after it allegedly attacked a civilian ship in the Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 July 2026 01:23 , Graig Graziosi
The U.S. Central Command confirmed on Saturday night that its forces launched a third wave of attacks against Iran, this time in retaliation to an alleged Iranian attack on a civilian-crewed container ship.
“A civilian crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engineroom damage,” U.S. Central Command said in an X post. “Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed.”
At 7:15 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces blatantly attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A civilian crew…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 11, 2026
How a vague clause in Trump’s peace deal led to anarchy in the Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 July 2026 01:00 , Harriette Boucher
Foreign reporter Maira Butt writes:
The future of the global economy once again rests on an 100-mile strip of water sandwiched between the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
Shipping through the vital waterway has halved following tit-for-tat strikes between the US and Iran this week, shaking the foundations of a sketchy 14-point interim peace deal between the warring nations.
It started when Iran attacked three commercial vessels passing through the Omani corridor of the Strait of Hormuz in overnight attacks on Monday.
The US revoked sanctions relief on Iranian oil sales almost immediately and US Central Command launched a wave of strikes on more than 80 military targets in response, accusing Tehran of violating the ceasefire agreement. Iran retaliated by hitting military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of violating the memo of understanding (MOU), writing on X: “The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.”
How a vague clause in Trump’s peace deal led to anarchy in the Strait of Hormuz
ICYMI: Iran's supreme leader pledges revenge for slain father and predecessor
Sunday 12 July 2026 00:00 , Harriette Boucher
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has threatened vengeance for the death of his predecessor and father, but added that it would depend not only on Iran but also on "free people around the world".
In the supreme leader's first public message since funeral ceremonies for his father began a week ago, the statement read on state television said that vengeance was "the demand of the nation" and "must certainly" take place.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, at the start of the war.
"We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” the statement said.
Mojtaba Khamenei, who senior sources have said suffered facial disfigurement and other injuries in the strike, has not been seen by Iranians since he was appointed supreme leader on March 8.
"Whether we are there or not, this will be accomplished, and soon every free person around the world will fulfill a part of this divine mission," the statement said.
US gave Iran Saturday deadline to declare Strait of Hormuz open
Saturday 11 July 2026 23:00 , Harriette Boucher
The US asked Iran to publicly state it will stop attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and that all lanes in the strait will be open to shipping with no tolls in 24 hours, according to a report by Axios.
Washington warned that failure to do so would bring “serious consequences", adding that contingency plans are already in place if diplomacy fails.
“The message has been conveyed directly and through regional mediators," Axios reported, citing US officials. One official warned, “If it is not their position [tomorrow], it is not gonna be a great day for them."
Comment: Trump’s right that Iran wants a deal – but he is far more desperate for one
Saturday 11 July 2026 22:00 , Harriette Boucher
The US president resumed bombing in Iran after labelling the country ‘scum’ at this week’s Nato summit. Name-calling might make him feel better – but it doesn’t change the fact that his opponent holds the cards in the Strait of Hormuz, writes Jon Sopel.
Read here:
Trump’s right that Iran wants a deal – but he is far more desperate for one
US in Lebanon to discuss 'pilot zone' withdrawal - report
Saturday 11 July 2026 21:00 , Harriette Boucher
A US military delegation is in Beirut discuss the implementation of Israel's withdrawal from one of the "pilot zones" in an occupied territory.
A Lebanese military official told AFP that the delegation will “discuss the mechanisms for implementing the first pilot zone from which the Israelis will withdraw, allowing the Lebanese army to deploy
"This is the main objective the American military delegation is bringing to Lebanon. ... It is the translation and implementation of the framework agreement."
The first so-called pilot zone in Lebanon, in which the Lebanese army will assume control of an area now occupied by Israeli forces, will launch in "a matter of days," with further zones being mapped out and planned.
Trump has ‘left instructions’ if he’s assassinated by Iran, he reveals
Saturday 11 July 2026 20:00 , Harriette Boucher
Senior US reporter Alex Woodward writes:
After spending several days labeling himself Iran’s “No. 1 target” and warning that he is under constant threat of assassination, President Donald Trump stressed that he left his advisers specific instructions should anything ever happen to him.
“I’ve left instructions — if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before,” he told The New York Post on Friday.
Trump has repeatedly indicated that he wants the U.S. military to destroy the country should Iranian officials follow through on alleged plans to assassinate the president.
While signing an executive order threatening “maximum pressure” against the regime in February 2025, the president said the country “would be obliterated” if he is killed.
“I’ve left instructions if they do it, they get obliterated, there won’t be anything left,” he said at the time.
Trump swatted away reports that Israel identified a fresh Iranian plot to kill the president, but his latest remarks follow a series of statements and mysterious security measures after leaving this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he repeatedly said he was at the top of Iran’s kill list and even told reporters they could be on a “dangerous flight” back home as a ceasefire in the months-long war collapsed.
Trump has ‘left instructions’ if he’s assassinated by Iran, he reveals
Iranian armed forces praised for forcing US and Israel to "retreat"
Saturday 11 July 2026 19:00 , Harriette Boucher
A senior Iranian official has hailed Tehran’s armed forces for US and Israeli forces to “retreat” during the 40-day war.
Hojjatoleslam Ahmad Pourkhaghan, the head of the judicial organisation of the Armed Forces, has credited their sacrifices with strengthening the country’s international standing, IRNA reported.
He reportedly praised the Army’s ground force for operating under “the most difficult conditions”.
Iran, Oman discuss safe passage of ships through Hormuz strait, Tehran says
Saturday 11 July 2026 18:00 , Harriette Boucher
Iran's foreign minister and his Omani counterpart exchanged views on "appropriate mechanisms" for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with Article 5 of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.
Abbas Aragchi posted the message in his Telegram channel on Saturday after he arrived in Oman for talks about the strait.
Where is Khamenei? Son still out of view as father buried in hometown
Saturday 11 July 2026 17:00 , Harriette Boucher
Iran's slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried in the country's holiest shrine, state media said early on Friday, after huge crowds gathered for his funeral with his son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei still hidden from public view.
The whereabouts of his son, proclaimed supreme leader by a clerical assembly in early March, a week after his father's death, has remained a mystery to Iranians.
He has not appeared in public since the war began. While he has made written statements, no image, video or voice recording of him has been issued.
He suffered debilitating injuries in the strike that killed his father, his face disfigured and limbs badly wounded.
Senior sources in Tehran have said he is recovering but that he has not yet been well enough to manage public appearances. State security services are also trying to limit his exposure in case of more U.S. attacks.
Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed with the backing of the IRGC, who are now seen as the dominant force in Iranian political and strategic thinking.
Catch up: Inside the tense Oval Office meeting where a furious Trump decided his deal with Iran was ‘over’
Saturday 11 July 2026 16:10 , Harriette Boucher
During a Monday Oval Office meeting, a furious Trump decided he had enough and determined the ceasefire with Iran was finished, according to a new report.
Shortly before Trump departed for a NATO summit in Turkey, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined him in the West Wing. They informed him that Iran had fired on three ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz within a span of a few hours.
Outraged, Trump asked his top advisers whether Tehran was negotiating in good faith toward a final deal to end the war, sources familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal. “In the end, after discussing it with his senior aides, the president decided they weren’t,” the outlet reported.
Inside the Oval Office meeting where Trump decided his deal with Iran was ‘over’
Middle Eastern countries 'deeply concerned' about latest conflicts
Saturday 11 July 2026 15:39 , Harriette Boucher
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia say they have “deep concern” over the conflict that has broken out in the Middle East.
The foreign ministers from both countries held a phone call on Saturday, where they agreed that the renewed conflict “serves no one’s interest and undermines efforts toward regional peace and stability.”
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said: “The Saudi foreign minister shared the Kingdom’s perspective on ongoing diplomatic efforts and emphasised the importance of de-escalation and continued dialogue.
”[Mohammad Ishaq Dar] reaffirmed Pakistan’s call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and allow mediation efforts the necessary time and space to achieve a peaceful and meaningful outcome.”
How a vague clause in Trump’s peace deal led to anarchy in the Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 11 July 2026 15:00 , Harriette Boucher
The global economy is facing uncertainty after the resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran. Experts tell Maira Butt that negotiators must go back to the drawing board on the strait if disruption is to be avoided:
How a vague clause in Trump’s peace deal led to anarchy in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's supreme leader pledges revenge for slain father and predecessor
Saturday 11 July 2026 14:30 , Harriette Boucher
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has threatened vengeance for the death of his predecessor and father, but added that it would depend not only on Iran but also on "free people around the world".
In the supreme leader's first public message since funeral ceremonies for his father began a week ago, the statement read on state television said that vengeance was "the demand of the nation" and "must certainly" take place.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, at the start of the war.
"We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” the statement said.
Mojtaba Khamenei, who senior sources have said suffered facial disfigurement and other injuries in the strike, has not been seen by Iranians since he was appointed supreme leader on March 8.
"Whether we are there or not, this will be accomplished, and soon every free person around the world will fulfill a part of this divine mission," the statement said.
Watch: Trump says he is top of Iran's 'kill list': 'They're scum'
Saturday 11 July 2026 14:00 , Stuti Mishra
Iranian president hails 'historic' funeral
Saturday 11 July 2026 13:31 , Harriette Boucher
Iran’s president has hailed a “historic” funeral for the late supreme leader, which reportedly had a presence of millions of people.
Masoud Pezeshkian described the turnout as = a renewed pledge to uphold the values of dignity, independence, justice, and national progress, Tasmin news reported.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said: ““On this occasion, I sincerely thank the tens of millions of people whose astonishing, enemy-defeating and historic presence filled the cities and villages of Iran and Iraq, especially Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala and Mashhad.”
Watch: Trump says military will ‘completely decimate and destroy’ Iran if he’s assassinated
Saturday 11 July 2026 13:21 , Harriette Boucher
US insists a nuclear deal will require Iran to turn over enriched uranium
Saturday 11 July 2026 13:00 , Stuti Mishra
The US officials also told journalists that any deal on Iran’s nuclear program would require Tehran to turn over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. That's something Iran has repeatedly refused.
If the US does not reach a deal with Iran to turn over its nuclear material, it has military options to ensure that it remains buried underground forever, the officials said. They did not detail those options.
The uranium, enriched to near weapons-grade levels, is believed to be at nuclear sites the US bombed in 2025. Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is peaceful, despite the International Atomic Energy Agency saying the Islamic Republic is the only country in the world to enrich uranium so highly without a weapons program.
The officials also insisted that they would never reach a nuclear deal with Iran if it did not first stop its attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Supreme Leader pledges revenge for slain father
Saturday 11 July 2026 12:00 , Stuti Mishra
Iran's new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said today that avenging his slain predecessor and father was "the demand of the nation" and "must certainly" take place, according to a written message released on his Telegram account.
Mr Khamenei issued the message on the occasion of funeral ceremonies for his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, held months after he was killed in the US-Israeli airstrikes on 28 February.
"We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers," Mr Khamenei said in the message.
US, Iran agree to continue talks but ceasefire over, Trump says
Saturday 11 July 2026 11:00 , Stuti Mishra
US president Donald Trump said the US and Iran had agreed to continue talks despite an escalation of hostilities this week but he declared that the ceasefire reached between the two sides last month was over.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.' We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!" Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Iran disputed Mr Trump's interpretation, saying it had not requested talks with the US but had agreed to host a Qatari mediator, state television reported. Qatari negotiators were meeting officials in Iran yesterday to de-escalate tensions and discuss the Strait of Hormuz, a person with knowledge of the situation said, according to Reuters.
The United States also stepped up demands yesterday that Iran stop attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, where recent hostilities have pushed oil prices higher, a politically sensitive issue for Trump ahead of November congressional elections.
Mr Trump's comments came on a day of relative calm at the end of a week of renewed conflict, when three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire, prompting the US to hit Iranian sites, and Iran to respond with strikes on US military sites in Gulf states.
Explosion heard in Tehran was planned, says Iranian state media
Saturday 11 July 2026 10:30 , Stuti Mishra
An explosion heard in the eastern part of Tehran province earlier today was caused by the controlled disposal of wartime ammunition, Iranian state media reported, citing a local official. The clarification followed initial confusion over the source of the blast.
The local official stated that the disposal operation was planned, posed no threat to citizens, and that no unscripted incident or accident had occurred in the area.
Earlier today, state media had reported that a loud explosion shook the eastern flank of the province. Residents in the districts of Pakdasht and Qiyamdasht reported hearing the blast, though the exact location and cause were not immediately known.
The incident comes amid heightened sensitivity to security events in Iran. Controlled detonations of historical ordnance from past conflicts, such as the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, are occasionally carried out near major military and industrial perimeters in the province.
