US president Donald Trump says he is seriously considering restarting major combat operations in Iran, including strikes that would be bigger than the ones carried out earlier this year.
Mr Trump stressed he has not yet decided, but told Axios: “They haven’t received enough pain yet.”
He has already threatened a “major military punishment” of Iran after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels bombed two Saudi oil tankers off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
The attacks threaten to further disrupt oil supply in a sign that the war is spreading across the region, as the Houthis warn they will cut off the Bab al-Mandab strait, one of the critical waterways through which oil flows.
“The US will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran,” the US president wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also threatened punishment for the Houthis.
The US military said it had carried out a 12th straight night of strikes against Iran in the early hours of Thursday, including the first use of B-1 long-range bombers in weeks.
Key Points
- Trump considers fresh major combat operations in Iran after Houthi attack
- Rubio claims Iran ‘begging for a deal’ amid escalating US strikes
- US military says 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran complete
- Houthis claim attack on two Saudi oil tankers
- Oil prices climb above $95 amid escalating US-Iran tensions
- Trump warns Iran of retaliation if ships targeted in Strait of Hormuz
Trump boasts of lower US death toll than in Vietnam
19:58 , Jane Dalton
Donald Trump has boasted that the death toll in Iran of 18 Americans is much lower than the numbers killed in Vietnam and Afghanistan, where thousands were killed.
“One is too many,” he said, “but it's 18, whereas in Vietnam we lost 200,000, we lost thosuands and thousands in Afghanistan, we lost thousands in every war, the Korean War, thousands, and these wars all lasted for years.”
Insisting the US could not let Iran have nuclear weapons, he said: “We're doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We're doing extremely well.”
Watch: US carries out 12th straight night of strikes as Iran-backed Houthi rebels bomb two Saudi oil tankers
19:00 , James Reynolds
Trump says Saudi Arabia must recognise Israel for nuclear deal to go ahead
18:30 , Jane Dalton
Trump says Saudi Arabia must recognise Israel for nuclear deal to go ahead
ICYMI: Iran flew IRGC commanders, missile gear to Yemen's Houthis
18:00 , James Reynolds
Iran flew Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen this month, according to four sources, in a move that suggests Tehran is seeking to strengthen the ability of its Houthi allies to threaten Red Sea shipping.
Four sources familiar with the matter, including two Iranian sources, Yemen's information minister and a regional security analyst, said Iran transferred the IRGC personnel and military-related equipment on a flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13, a development that has not been previously reported.
The two Iranian sources told Reuters that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight.
The plane was originally bound for the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, but diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after the airport came under attack by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
"The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems," one of the sources said, adding that Iran also sent gold on the aircraft to fund Houthi activities.
Trump considering fresh major combat operations in Iran
17:32 , Jane Dalton
US president Donald Trump says he is seriously considering restarting major combat operations in Iran, which could include larger strikes than those carried out during "Operaton Epic Fury", it’s been reported.
"They haven't received enough pain yet," Axios quoted Trump as saying, adding that he said he had not yet made a final decision.
Operation Epic Fury was the US code name for its military operation against Iran from February to May.
Gate of Tears: How key shipping route became next front in US-Iran war
17:00 , James Reynolds
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have declared they will impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, cutting off the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The threat marks yet another potential blow to the global economy as Tehran continues to frustrate Donald Trump’s efforts to bring the war he began with Israel in February to a close.
The Houthis control areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which sits on the opposite end of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz.
Read the full story:
Gate of Tears: How key shipping route Bab al-Mandab became next front in US-Iran war
ICYMI: UK embassy staff withdrawn from Tehran as conflict escalates again
16:30 , James Reynolds
The UK said on Wednesday it was temporarily withdrawing diplomatic staff in Iran over rising tensions in the region.
“Due to the ongoing security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw UK staff from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
They reiterated their travel advice, telling people not to go to Iran.
“If you are a British national already in Iran, either resident or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying,” they said.
Watch: US carries out 12th straight night of strikes as Iran-backed Houthi rebels bomb two Saudi oil tankers
16:00 , Alex Croft
Regional mediators push for new 10-day ceasefire between US and Iran
15:29 , Alex Croft
Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt have proposed a 10-day ceasefire between the US and Iran in an effort to prevent the conflict from spreading into a wider regional war, Axios reported.
The proposal comes after continuous US strikes on Iran and continued Iranian attacks targeting Gulf states, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Iran has vowed an “eye for an eye” response after US president Donald Trump threatened strikes on Iranian infrastructure for attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran 'flew IRGC commanders, missile gear to Yemen's Houthis'
15:16 , James Reynolds
Iran flew Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen this month, according to four sources, in a move that suggests Tehran is seeking to strengthen the ability of its Houthi allies to threaten Red Sea shipping.
Four sources familiar with the matter, including two Iranian sources, Yemen's information minister and a regional security analyst, said Iran transferred the IRGC personnel and military-related equipment on a flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13, a development that has not been previously reported.
The two Iranian sources told Reuters that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight.
The plane was originally bound for the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, but diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after the airport came under attack by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
"The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems," one of the sources said, adding that Iran also sent gold on the aircraft to fund Houthi activities.
Gate of Tears: How key shipping route Bab al-Mandab became next front in the US-Iran war
15:01 , Alex Croft
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have declared they will impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, cutting off the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The threat marks yet another potential blow to the global economy as Tehran continues to frustrate Donald Trump’s efforts to bring the war he began with Israel in February to a close.
The Houthis control areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which sits on the opposite end of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz.
Like Hormuz, the strait, also known as the “Gate of Tears”, is a chokepoint in the region through which large volumes of petroleum and liquefied natural gas pass.
Read more here:
Gate of Tears: How key shipping route Bab al-Mandab became next front in US-Iran war
Trump says Saudi nuclear deal subject to them joining Abraham Accords
14:47 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump has said that the ‘civil nuclear deal’ between the US and Saudi Arabia will be subject to Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords, ensuring normalisation of ties with Israel.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, the president insisted the deal would only be for civilian purposes and that there would be “no enrichment of material”.
Civilian nuclear power plants also require enriched uranium.
Trump said the deal “will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords”.
“The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities,” he added.
Aramco offers more crude oil cargoes from Mediterranean amid Red Sea threats
14:30 , Alex Croft
Saudi Aramco has offered additional crude cargoes for loading from Egypt's Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir, five trading sources told the Reuters news agency.
It signals a potential shift in export routes as Houthi threats to shipping raise risks for oil movements through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
The cargoes are being offered on a spot basis, two of the sources said, supplementing supplies to Aramco's term buyers.
While Aramco already supplies some customers in Europe and North America from Sidi Kerir, the additional volumes suggest the Saudi producer is seeking greater flexibility in reaching its markets as security risks persist along the Red Sea route.
Aramco declined to comment.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard defends its strikes on Gulf states
14:02 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) defended its attacks on US military bases in Kuwait and Jordan, arguing that the strikes were aimed at American forces rather than the Gulf states themselves.
Responding to accusations that Iran had violated the sovereignty of countries where US bases are located, the IRGC said such claims were “completely incorrect”, according to Mehr state news agency.
In a message to Kuwait, it said: “It is America that has violated your territorial integrity and sovereignty, not us.”
The IRGC argued that US military bases in Gulf countries were effectively under American control and claimed local officials could not access them without US permission.
It said: “We are attacking lands occupied by the US army.”
The group added that the bases were being used to carry out “crimes” against Iran and said: “It is our legal, religious and logical right to target the invader of our country.”
In a separate statement directed at Jordan, the IRGC said: “In our opinion, the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of your government are completely respected.”
Trump threatens 'major military punishment' against Iran after Houthi attack
13:34 , Alex Croft
Donald Trump has threatened a “major military punishment” against Iran, holding it responsible for attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels bombed two Saudi oil tankers off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
The attacks threaten to further disrupt oil supply in a sign that the war is spreading across the region, as the Houthis warn they will cut off the Bab al-Mandab strait, one of the critical waterways through which oil flows.
“The U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran, and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart,” the US president wrote on Truth Social.
Iran showed its ‘true colours’ by attacking neighbours during war with US, American envoy to UK says
13:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar
The US ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, has said that Iran has shown its “true colours” by attacking several Arab countries during its war with the US.
Stephens told Sky News that the duration of renewed US attacks on Iran would “depend on Iran”, particularly whether Tehran continues disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said that “they’ve shown their hand” by attacking regional neighbours and “hopefully that’s going to isolate this... regime”.
Earlier, responding to accusations that Iran had violated the sovereignty of countries where US bases are located, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said such claims were “completely incorrect”, according to Mehr state news agency.
In a message to Kuwait, it said: “It is America that has violated your territorial integrity and sovereignty, not us.”
Pakistan PM condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers
12:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, calling them unacceptable and a violation of international law.
Sharif wrote on X that he conveyed this directly to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and reaffirmed that Pakistan stands firmly with Saudi Arabia.
“I condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the Houthi militia’s attacks against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. Such actions are unacceptable, violate international law, threaten freedom of navigation, and undermine regional peace and security.
“I reaffirmed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and conveyed that I, together with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the entire Pakistani nation, stand firmly and resolutely with the Saudi leadership and the brotherly people of the Kingdom at this critical time.”
Held a telephone conversation with my dear brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this morning.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 23, 2026
I condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the Houthi militia’s attacks…
Iran could be the richest country in the Middle East, Rubio says
12:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said that Iran’s “lunatic” leaders, including the clerics, are holding the country back and that it could be “the richest country in the Middle East”.
“Some of them are lunatics, some of them are evil, some of them are evil lunatics,” he told reporters. He then added: “You can be both.”
He said that Iran “is a country run by radical clerics,” who are “oblivious” to economic issues.
“They are destroying their country,” he said, adding: “But instead they take their money, and they use it and they give it to Hezbollah, they give it to Hamas, they give it to the Houthis. They give it to Shia militias. They give it to sponsored terrorism all over the world.”
Rubio also repeated the US position that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon. “They cannot have nuclear weapons; I mean, imagine what they would do to the world,” he said.
US uses B-1 long-range bomber for first time since fighting against Iran resumed
11:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar
The US has escalated its military campaign against Iran by using a B-1 long-range bomber for the first time since fighting resumed 12 days ago, according to US officials.
The bomber was used to strike IRGC targets in Iran, Axios reported. B-1 aircraft can carry large numbers of heavy bombs and cruise missiles.
US Centcom said its strikes targeted Iranian military operations centres, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities and logistics infrastructure to weaken Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
However, it remains unclear what specific targets the B-1 hit.
Rubio claims Iran ‘begging for a deal’ amid escalating US strikes
11:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar
The US secretary of state has claimed that Iran is “begging for a deal” with the US and that the “price on Iran will get higher every night until they come to their senses”.
Speaking at the ASEAN conference in Manila, Marco Rubio said: “Iran is begging for a deal. It looks like Iran is not ready to make a deal, they will pay the price.”
He added: “Every time they make a deal they either break it or change it.”
Rubio said he hoped the Iran-backed Houthis will de-escalate. “They got snookered by Iran.”
The secretary of state also commented on the nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, saying: “Even when the official announcement is made, it will have to go through a congressional notification process.
“And then we can talk more in depth about it, but suffice it to say that the US is always looking for co-operation agreements with allies.”
He called Saudi Arabia “a strategic ally” of Washington.
Iranian state media report two dead in latest US strikes
10:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iranian state media reported that two people were killed and 11 wounded in US strikes in southern Iran, near the country’s border with Iraq.
The deaths were reported as part of the latest wave of American attacks, which the US military said targeted “maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defence assets”.
Centcom said in a statement on X: “The strikes further degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels.”
According to Al Jazeera, explosions were reported in cities including Bushehr, Ahvaz, Sirik and Shalamcheh.
Centcom earlier today posted on X, saying it completed the 12th night of strikes on Iran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard defends its strikes on Gulf states
10:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) defended its attacks on US military bases in Kuwait and Jordan, arguing that the strikes were aimed at American forces rather than the Gulf states themselves.
Responding to accusations that Iran had violated the sovereignty of countries where US bases are located, the IRGC said such claims were “completely incorrect”, according to Mehr state news agency.
In a message to Kuwait, it said: “It is America that has violated your territorial integrity and sovereignty, not us.”
The IRGC argued that US military bases in Gulf countries were effectively under American control and claimed local officials could not access them without US permission.
It said: “We are attacking lands occupied by the US army.”
The group added that the bases were being used to carry out “crimes” against Iran and said: “It is our legal, religious and logical right to target the invader of our country.”
In a separate statement directed at Jordan, the IRGC said: “In our opinion, the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of your government are completely respected.”
US carries out 12th straight night of strikes as Iran-backed Houthi rebels bomb two Saudi oil tankers
09:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar
British government withdraws staff from Iran
09:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar
The UK government has temporarily withdrawn embassy staff from Iran, citing “the ongoing security situation” in the region.
The British embassy in Tehran will continue operating remotely, according to a brief update on the government’s website.
The statement from the Foreign Office said that it “advises against all travel to Iran. If you are a British national already in Iran, either resident or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying”.
The move comes after days of consecutive nights of US strikes on Iran and amid escalating tensions following Donald Trump’s threat to target Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges in Tehran.
Israelis warn Saudi-US nuclear deal will lead to 'crazy arms race'
09:06 , Alex Croft
Senior Israeli politicians have warned a deal between the US and Saudi Arabia allowing the kingdom to build nuclear reactors using American technology and to enrich uranium could prompt the start of an arms race in the Middle East.
The agreement, which still needs Congressional approval but was announced on Wednesday, is meant to allow the Saudis to develop a civilian nuclear programme.
Netanyahu and his defence and foreign ministers have so far not commented on the deal, which critics say compromises Israel's long-term security interests.
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who is seeking to unseat Netanyahu in an October 27 election, said: "The nuclear agreement that is coming together with Saudi Arabia, over Israel’s head, is a serious strategic failure that endangers our security.”
"Nuclear enrichment on Saudi soil could lead to a regional nuclear race and a dangerous loss of control."
Former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said that "the civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia will end in nuclear weapons and will lead to a crazy arms race throughout the entire Middle East."
Major security gathering in Southeast Asia focusses on Middle East
08:42 , Alex Croft
Top diplomats from Asia, Europe and North America met at the security-focused ASEAN Regional Forum, where ministers were expected to call for a peaceful settlement of renewed and intensifying hostilities in the Middle East.
The war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are set to dominate the Manila meetings attended by US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and top officials from Australia, Britain, China, the European Union, India, Japan and others.
The conflict is a key concern for the 11-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has a combined gross domestic product of about $3.8 trillion (£2.8 trillion) heavily reliant on Middle East oil, exposing it to fallout that has stoked global inflation.
"We convene against the backdrop of profound geopolitical and geoeconomic uncertainty," Maria Theresa Lazaro, the foreign secretary of the Philippines, which is chairing the grouping, said in opening remarks.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claims it carried out attacks on US assets in Jordan
08:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it carried out attacks on US military assets in Jordan, saying it “destroyed a radar of the American THAAD missile defence system with lightning strikes”.
It said a “Patriot system and a C-RAM radar were also targeted and destroyed, and the fuel tanks of the American base were set on fire”.
It added that “a large helicopter equipment warehouse and a helicopter repair and maintenance shed were also set on fire and destroyed”.
The IRGC said the strikes were aimed at US forces, not Jordan, and argued they were a response to American attacks on Iran.
It claimed the operations did not violate Jordan’s sovereignty.
Jordan had not immediately commented on the claims.
The IRGC had earlier also claimed attacks on US military targets in Kuwait.
US uses B-1 long-range bomber for first time since fighting against Iran resumed
08:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
The US has escalated its military campaign against Iran by using a B-1 long-range bomber for the first time since fighting resumed 12 days ago, according to US officials.
The bomber was used to strike IRGC targets in Iran, Axios reported. B-1 aircraft can carry large numbers of heavy bombs and cruise missiles.
US Centcom said its strikes targeted Iranian military operations centres, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities and logistics infrastructure to weaken Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
However, it remains unclear what specific targets the B-1 hit.
Regional mediators push for new 10-day ceasefire between US and Iran
07:40 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt have proposed a 10-day ceasefire between the US and Iran in an effort to prevent the conflict from spreading into a wider regional war, Axios reported.
The proposal comes after continuous US strikes on Iran and continued Iranian attacks targeting Gulf states, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Iran has vowed an “eye for an eye” response after US president Donald Trump threatened strikes on Iranian infrastructure for attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran war: Key developments today
07:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar
- US strikes Iran for the 12th consecutive night.
- Iran says at least two people were killed and 11 wounded in the US strike on the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq.
- The IRGC said it hit US military facilities in Kuwait, including drone and air defence sites.
- Tehran said it stopped three oil tankers from crossing the Strait of Hormuz, with one vessel catching fire. The IRGC said the waterway was “completely closed”.
- Yemen’s Houthis claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia confirmed the Encelia was hit but said all crew were safe.
- The US president warned Washington would destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant for every attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned of an “eye for an eye” response to any attack on Iranian infrastructure.
- Oil prices climbed to around $95 a barrel amid fears of wider disruption to global energy supplies.
US carries out 12th straight night of strikes as Iran-backed Houthi rebels bomb two Saudi oil tankers
07:10 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iranian state media report two dead in latest US strikes
07:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iranian state media reported that two people were killed in US strikes in southern Iran, near the country’s border with Iraq.
The deaths were reported as part of the latest wave of American attacks, which the US military said targeted “maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defence assets”.
Centcom said in a statement on X: “The strikes further degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels.”
According to Al Jazeera, explosions were reported in cities including Bushehr, Ahvaz, Sirik and Shalamcheh.
Centcom earlier today posted on X, saying it completed the 12th night of strikes on Iran.
WATCH: Hegseth says Trump should be praised for Iran conflict
06:40 , Rachel Dobkin
Araghchi describes moment of US-Israeli strike that killed Ali Khamenei
06:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has described surviving a US-Israeli strike that killed Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war, saying he was pulled from rubble after a leadership compound was hit.
In an interview with Iranian journalist Javad Mogouyi, Araghchi said the US and Israel had accurate intelligence on the location of Iran’s top officials.
“What matters, in my view, is the fact that Israel had intelligence about these meetings,” Araghchi said, adding: “This may point to a security gap that probably still exists. This needs to be fixed.”
He said he has since been constantly moving around Tehran for security reasons.
Describing the strike, he said: “We were on the other side of the building, and after the explosion, the ceiling, walls, and everything collapsed on us. I grabbed Mr Hijazi’s hand (Khamenei’s deputy chief of staff, Ali Asghar Hijazi), and we made our way through the beams and boards and pieces of wood, hearing the cries for help.”
He continued: “Water was pouring from the ceiling. Everything was wrecked. We eventually got out, and I saw that various parts of the compound had been targeted.”
House passes defense bill with Trump’s $1T spending request and Department of War rename
06:00 , Kevin Freking
The US House of Representatives has approved a defense policy bill that includes President Donald Trump's request for a substantial $1.15 trillion in national security spending and proposes renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
The legislation, which also mandates a 5 percent to 7 percent pay increase for service members next year based on rank, marks a significant departure from the typically bipartisan nature of the annual National Defense Authorization Act.
The vote, a narrow 216-212, underscored deep divisions, with Democrats voicing strong opposition. Their concerns centered on the considerable spending hike for the Pentagon, particularly as Republicans simultaneously sought to cut numerous non-defense programs through other legislative efforts.
Read on...
House passes defense bill with Trump’s $1T spending request and Pentagon rename
Trump warns Iran of retaliation if ships are targeted in Strait of Hormuz
05:40 , Maroosha Muzaffar
US president Donald Trump warned Iran that the US would target Iranian infrastructure if Tehran continued attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that for every ship hit by Iranian missiles, drones or other weapons, the US would destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant, including facilities near Tehran.
He wrote: “From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran.”
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi responded by warning of an “eye for an eye” retaliation, saying any attack on Iranian infrastructure would trigger a “powerful and decisive” response.
Our defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 22, 2026
Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response.
Those who contribute to such aggression, whatever the kind of support, will also be considered as legitimate targets.
Chinese supertankers carrying Saudi oil head for Red Sea exit despite Houthi threats
05:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Two Chinese supertankers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi crude were heading towards the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Thursday, despite escalating security risks in the Red Sea.
Shipping data showed the vessels were continuing their journeys even after at least one Saudi-owned ship was attacked in the region and Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed strikes on two Saudi oil tankers.
Their transit is expected to test the Houthis’ recently announced maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia.
According to LSEG shipping data cited by Reuters, the Singaporean-flagged Xin Long Yang, which had briefly halted in the Red Sea earlier this week, resumed sailing towards China’s Qinzhou port, while the Chinese-flagged Cosnew Lake continued towards Huizhou in Guangdong province.
Both ships indicated they had Chinese crews on board through their automatic identification system data.
WATCH: Trump claims Americans are not against the Iran war despite all polling showing they are
05:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Oil prices climb above $95 amid escalating US-Iran tensions
04:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Oil prices rose above $95 a barrel for the first time in six weeks as the escalating US-Iran conflict fuelled concerns over disruptions to global energy supplies.
The increase was driven by renewed tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi threats to target vessels carrying Saudi oil through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
The rise came after the 11th consecutive night of US strikes on Iran, with Donald Trump warning military action would intensify.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs said oil prices could climb to $120 a barrel by the end of the year if exports through Hormuz remain disrupted, according to the Guardian.
US military says 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran complete
04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar
The US military said it had carried out a 12th straight night of strikes against Iran.
In a statement posted on X, US Central Command (Centcom) said American forces targeted Iranian military infrastructure, including maritime assets, missile and drone storage sites, coastal surveillance facilities and air defence systems.
Centcom said the latest attacks were aimed at further weakening Iran's ability to target civilian mariners and commercial shipping.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 23, 2026
Saudi state media confirms attack on Red Sea vessel
04:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Saudi state media has confirmed that a Saudi-owned vessel came under attack while sailing in the Red Sea.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), which cited an official from the General Transport Authority, the incident caused a fire at the front of the ship.
The official said all crew members aboard the Encelia were safe and that authorities had taken steps to secure the vessel, protect those on board and prevent environmental damage.
The statement followed claims by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group that it had launched missile and drone attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday.
The Houthis identified one of the ships as the Encelia, saying the strikes were part of what they described as a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia linked to the US-Iran conflict.
House Democrat criticizes newly adopted Iran war funding proposal: 'Focus on investment here at home'
03:32 , Rachel Dobkin
US Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, has criticized a budget proposal adopted by the Republican-led House Wednesday, which includes funding for the Iran war.
“This money could fund free public college and free childcare for every American while expanding health care coverage for seniors”, Khanna wrote on X. “It’s time to end the war and focus on investment here at home”.
The $95 billion package, which was adopted in a 216-214 vote, includes $60 billion for the Pentagon and $13 billion for other national security issues, $12 billion in aid for farmers and $10 billion to help implement changes in voting laws, according to the Associated Press.
Trump oddly boasts about how many Americans have been killed in his Iran war compared to Vietnam
03:04 , Brendan Rascius
Donald Trump has framed the American death toll in the Iran war as relatively low compared to past conflicts, drawing criticism from across the political spectrum.
Trump recently posted a graphic on his Truth Social platform that outlined the duration and casualties of wars initiated under previous presidents.
“Vietnam War: 19 years, 58,220 DEAD. Korean War: 3 years, 36,574 DEAD. Iraq War: 9 years, 4,600 DEAD. Afghanistan War: 20 years, 2,000 DEAD”, it stated.
The current war was labeled simply as the “Iran Military Conflict,” accompanied by the line “18 DEAD”.
Read on...
Trump boasts about how many Americans have been killed in Iran compared to Vietnam
Maritime traffic in Strait of Hormuz remains diminished
02:31 , Rachel Dobkin
Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has remained diminished as the Iran war drags on.
Just 14 ships have transited the vital oil waterway in the Middle East in the past 24 hours, according to the Hormuz Strait Monitor.
Trump claims without proof that soldiers killed in Iran war shared his view that Tehran can’t have a nuclear weapon
02:03 , Brendan Rascius
Donald Trump has claimed that US service members killed in the Iran war had shared his view that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
The US president made the remarks Wednesday — seemingly without proof — before heading to Dover Air Force Base to attend the dignified transfer of four soldiers who died in the Middle East conflict over the past week.
“We’re going to Dover…to honor our heroes, and they are indeed great heroes, actually”, Trump told reporters while standing in front of Marine One.
“They said, and all of them said very strongly, ‘We can’t let, we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. They won’t have a nuclear weapon’”, the president continued. “So, we’re going to honor them, and one of the hardest things to do — for me, it’s one of the hardest things to do as a president — but has to be done”.
Read on...
Trump claims without proof fallen soldiers were against Iran having nuclear weapon
WATCH: Trump pays tribute to fallen US soldier as family attends his event
01:32 , Rachel Dobkin
.@POTUS recognizes the family of fallen American hero 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan at his event in Georgia:
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 22, 2026
"I want to thank Tyler’s mother Shari, his father Stephen, and his uncle David... To Shari, and Stephen, and David—we will carry Tyler’s memory in our hearts forever." 🙏🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XkPaaEpRwU
Trump's unpopular Iran war receives another negative review from Americans
01:06 , Rachel Dobkin
Donald Trump's unpopular Iran war has received another negative review from Americans.
In a new Fox News poll, 66 percent of Americans said they disapprove of the way the US president is handling the war, while just 34 percent said they approve.
WATCH: Trump says Iran will be ready to make a deal 'very soon'
Thursday 23 July 2026 00:34 , Rachel Dobkin
.@POTUS on the Islamic Republic of Iran: "They're getting hit so hard, and they want to make a deal — but I say they're not ready to make a deal because every time they make a deal they want to change it and everything. They're not ready." pic.twitter.com/JBbdi5BXMD
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 22, 2026
House adopts package to fund Iran war and other Trump priorities
Thursday 23 July 2026 00:05 , Rachel Dobkin
The US House of Representatives has adopted a $95 billion package to fund the Iran war and other priorities of President Donald Trump.
In a 216-214 vote, the Republican-led House approved $60 billion for the Pentagon and $13 billion for other national security issues, $12 billion in aid for farmers and $10 billion to help implement changes in voting laws, according to the Associated Press.
