Military spokesperson says maritime blockade has forced Saudi tankers to avoid Red Sea route
Archiv: 12-07-2026 in some kind of German „Grand Coalition“ Iranian IRGC and Rogue States of Israel and USA going for endless war / civil vessels in Omani waters fired upon / Iranian cities bombed
US launches strikes on Iran after Trump says it’s „our turn“ following intercepted Iranian attack
(10 hr 54 min ago)
“We’re going to be hitting them very hard because it’s our turn to hit them. They know it’s coming,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
On Tuesday night, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched multiple ballistic missiles towards US forces in the region, and Jordan’s military said it intercepted five missiles.
Der Iran wird zu einem Verlierer des Westasienkrieges
(July 19, 2026)
Für den einigermaßen wachen Beobachter erscheint es, als ob Mossad, CIA, MI6 und BND in Teheran an der Macht wären und sich einen ihren üblichen grausamen Scherze erlauben.
Who Is Running Iran? Mojtaba Khamenei’s Public Absence Sparks ‚Command Crisis‘ Rumours
(March 22, 2026)
Despite the expectations of CIA and Mossad for a traditional New Year’s speech, Mojtaba Khamenei remained out of sight, issuing only a text-based statement on Telegram for Nowruz.
Sources cited by The Jerusalem Post indicate that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may currently hold the reins of the country, with one source suggesting the Guard is controlling Mojtaba rather than following his lead.
US air base, CENTCOM headquarters in Jordan targeted: IRGC
Tehran, IRNA – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says that its Aerospace Force has targeted a US air base and the US military’s CENTCOM headquarters in Jordan with ballistic missiles.
In a statement issued early Wednesday, the IRGC Aerospace Force said the attack was carried out in response to aggressive actions by the US military against Iran.
The brave combatants of the IRGC Aerospace Force targeted the US air base and the CENTCOM headquarters of the US military in Jordan with several ballistic missiles, the statement said.
Tehran says it will halt attacks as long as US maintains pause
The senior Iranian source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters: „Iran’s position remains ‘attack for attack’: if the attacks stop, Iran will also halt its operations. That message has already been conveyed to the United States.“
Talks between Iran and Oman have been constructive, moving in positive direction, official says
(46 min ago)
Discussions between Iranian officials and their Omani counterparts over the last two days have been constructive, one Iranian official told CBS News on Sunday. Talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are also moving in a positive direction, the official said.
Mojtaba Khamenei: Iran‘s unseen leader shadowed by late father
(July 1, 2026)
Despite the messages and activity on social media channels, there has been no concrete proof that Mojtaba Khamenei is even alive after the February 28 attack that also killed his wife Zahra Haddad Adel and other members of the Khamenei family.
Iran’s government spars with state TV as mediators push talks with US
The broadcaster, whose head is appointed by the supreme leader, issued a response on Saturday rejecting the government’s “accusations and improper attributions”, and emphasised that it has a duty to prevent “an incorrect and unreal suggestion of duality in the country’s leadership pillars”.
In his speech, Pezeshkian had pointed out that after last year’s 12-day war with Israel, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly said there would be no negotiations with Washington – but privately had given his approval.
Trump tells Axios he‘s considering a „bigger than ever before“ attack on Iran
„I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,“ Mr. Trump told Axios, adding that he believed Iran‘s leaders „want to negotiate,“ but aren‘t yet ready to make a deal.
„They haven‘t received enough pain yet,“ he told the outlet.
U.S. forces carried out a 12th consecutive night of strikes across Iran on Wednesday, and Mr. Trump warned in a social media post Thursday that the Islamic Republic and its Houthi allies would both face „major military punishment“ if the Yemeni rebels repeat their attacks from earlier this week on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
Watch: Houthi spokesperson says group targeted Saudi oil tankers
(10 hours ago)
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said its armed forces targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, claiming the vessels had violated a ban imposed by the group.
Saudi Arabia‘s state media later confirmed that one of its vessels was struck and the bow of the ship caught fire, with a source adding that all crew members onboard Encelia were safe.
Araghchi interview draws fire from Iran hardliners
Javan, a newspaper affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, wrote on Tuesday that confirming details surrounding the attacks, discussing the day the former leader was killed or revealing that the foreign minister had no contact with new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei were not matters that should have been disclosed publicly.
Der Iran wird zu einem Verlierer des Westasienkrieges
Irgendeine Gruppe oder Fraktion hat die Staatsführung des Iran übernommen, in deren Interesse nicht der Iran selbst, sondern die Fortführung des Krieges auf unabsehbare Zeit steht. Welche Rolle dabei der Sohn des in der ersten Angriffswelle auf den Iran am 28. Februar ermordeten „Obersten Führers“ („Supreme Leader“) Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei spielt, erscheint völlig unklar. Bisher ist er nicht in der Öffentlichkeit aufgetreten. Ausgerechnet über israelische Medien wird gestreut, dies werde so bleiben bis zum unabsehbaren Ende des Krieges. Die formal dem „Obersten Führer“ unterstellten Revolutionsgarden agieren gegen die iranischen Interessen. Gewinner des Krieges sind u.a. Ölmagnate, Kriegsproduzenten und der internationale geheimdienstliche Komplex, nicht zuletzt in der Russischen Föderation, sowie der zum Machterhalt auf Krieg und externe Bedrohung angewiesene Machthaber in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Dabei ist das Interesse der Kriegsgewinnler auf allen Seiten den Westasienkrieg insgesamt noch auszuweiten.
Iran in ‘real danger of overplaying its hand’
“Tehran has repeatedly overplayed its hand throughout history, and these repeated attacks across the Gulf Cooperation Council could end up making the Strait of Hormuz redundant,” Kamrava told Al Jazeera.
He noted some Gulf countries have already invested in alternative routes to export oil and gas.
“Tehran is running a real danger of overplaying its hand,” Kamrava reiterated.
High Representative of EU and Bahrain, as Presidency of GCC, issue statement on Strait of Hormuz and Freedom of Navigation
Brussels, Jul. 18 (BNA): On the occasion of the High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation, held in Brussels on 13 July, co-chaired by High Representative Kaja Kallas on behalf of the European Union, and Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in his capacity as President of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the High Representative and the Presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council issued the following joint statement:
1. The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirm that freedom of navigation, including the right of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a strait used for international navigation, are guaranteed under international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. These rights belong to the ships of all States and cannot be suspended, impeded, or made conditional by any State.
2. We condemn in the strongest terms the attacks carried out by Iran against commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and against the sovereign territory of States of the region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan. These attacks endangered civilian lives and mariners, violated international law and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, and are wholly unjustifiable.
3. We reject as unlawful any assertion of sovereignty or control over the Strait of Hormuz by any State, and we oppose any regime of permits, transit tolls, or service fees imposed upon international shipping. No bilateral arrangement, understanding, or memorandum between States can unlawfully govern or restrict the right of passage through an international strait, which is guaranteed to all States under international law and cannot be subordinated to the control or permission of any State.
4. We express our full solidarity with the States affected by these attacks and with the seafarers of all nationalities placed in danger. An attack on the security of one is a concern for all who depend on the safety of this vital waterway.
5. We call upon Iran to cease immediately and unconditionally all attacks and all interference with maritime navigation; to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, sustainably and without condition, toll, or fee; and to comply fully with international law and with Security Council Resolution 2817. We reject the imposition of any unilateral or unlawful mechanism or arrangement affecting safe passage through the Strait. States must work within and support international and regional institutions responsible for maritime governance, safety, and security, particularly the International Maritime Organisation.
6. The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council will continue to coordinate closely to uphold freedom of navigation, to support the protection of international shipping and seafarers, and to advance a just and durable peace and security in the region, consistent with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
7. We continue to call for restraint and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as means to resolve the crisis and to uphold freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Co-chairs Statement by the High Representative and the Kingdom of Bahrain as Presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council on the Strait of Hormuz and Freedom of Navigation
13.07.2026 Brussels, 13 July 2026
EEAS Press Team
On the occasion of the High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation, held in Brussels on 13 July 2026, co-chaired by High Representative Kaja Kallas on behalf of the European Union, and HE Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in his capacity as President of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the High Representative and Presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council issued the following joint statement:
1. The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirm that freedom of navigation, including the right of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a strait used for international navigation, are guaranteed under international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. These rights belong to the ships of all States and cannot be suspended, impeded, or made conditional by any State.
2. We condemn in the strongest terms the attacks carried out by Iran against commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and against the sovereign territory of States of the region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan. These attacks endangered civilian lives and mariners, violated international law and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, and are wholly unjustifiable.
3. We reject as unlawful any assertion of sovereignty or control over the Strait of Hormuz by any State, and we oppose any regime of permits, transit tolls, or service fees imposed upon international shipping. No bilateral arrangement, understanding, or memorandum between States can unlawfully govern or restrict the right of passage through an international strait, which is guaranteed to all States under international law and cannot be subordinated to the control or permission of any State.
4. We express our full solidarity with the States affected by these attacks and with the seafarers of all nationalities placed in danger. An attack on the security of one is a concern for all who depend on the safety of this vital waterway.
5. We call upon Iran to cease immediately and unconditionally all attacks and all interference with maritime navigation; to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, sustainably and without condition, toll, or fee; and to comply fully with international law and with Security Council Resolution 2817. We reject the imposition of any unilateral or unlawful mechanism or arrangement affecting safe passage through the Strait. States must work within and support international and regional institutions responsible for maritime governance, safety, and security, particularly the International Maritime Organisation.
6. The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council will continue to coordinate closely to uphold freedom of navigation, to support the protection of international shipping and seafarers, and to advance a just and durable peace and security in the region, consistent with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
7. We continue to call for restraint and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as means to resolve the crisis and to uphold freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
EU, Gulf states call on Iran to unconditionally reopen Strait of Hormuz
CAIRO – 19 July 2026: The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Saturday called on Iran to permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping without imposing any conditions or transit fees.
In a joint statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and the GCC presidency strongly condemned Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the vital strait.
HE GCCSG: Treacherous Iranian Regime‘s Targeting of Infrastructure and Civilian Facilities in Kingdom of Bahrain, State of Kuwait, and Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Constitutes War Crimes Requiring Immediate International Accountability
His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), condemned in the strongest terms the treacherous Iranian attacks that targeted the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, alongside the targeting of infrastructure and civilian facilities, which resulted in the injury of a number of civilian workers in the State of Kuwait.
„Iran‘s actions constitute a highly dangerous escalation, a grave violation of international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter, as well as war crimes requiring international accountability and prosecution, given the deliberate targeting of infrastructure and civilian facilities in flagrant violation of all international norms and conventions, and a persistent determination to destabilise regional security and stability,“ His Excellency underlined.
Moreover, His Excellency stressed that the GCC stands as one with the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, supporting all measures they take to protect their security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, while expressing his wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured individuals in the State of Kuwait.
Third Strike on Prince Sultan and Still No HQ-9 Intercept
(July 18, 2026)
Pakistan deployed the HQ-9 battery to Saudi Arabia in May 2026 under the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, according to the Times of Islamabad and The Daily Star. The system is operated exclusively by Pakistani military personnel — not Saudi or American crews — and functions as a standalone package integrated with Pakistan’s own command-and-control architecture rather than with Saudi Arabia’s existing air defense network, according to Defence Security Asia reporting from May 2026. The Jerusalem Post noted that Pakistan “deploys the defenses as part of a package because of their interoperability with other Pakistani systems,” a formulation that carries an embedded concession: the HQ-9 is not interoperable with anything else at the base.
(…)
The HQ-9 family’s combat record is now the most extensively documented peacetime marketing success that has failed every wartime test it has faced. During Operation Sindoor in May 2025, Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighters launched two BrahMos-A air-launched cruise missiles at Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi, and Pakistan fired approximately 18 HQ-9B interceptors in response, according to Indian Defence Research Wing. The result was zero confirmed intercepts — both BrahMos missiles struck their targets, an 0-for-18 record that prompted Brandon J. Weichert, national security writer at The National Interest, to call the system “a Frankenstein’s Monster” reverse-engineered from Russian S-300 technology.
Iran’s strike on Sultan Air Base puts Pakistan-Saudi Defense Pact in spotlight
(July 18, 2026)
A report shared by Axios, said Iran allegedly fired a ballistic missile at a U.S. base in the Kingdom. Unverified videos circulating on social media purport to show a direct impact at Prince Sultan Air Base, though neither Washington nor Riyadh has officially confirmed the authenticity of the footage or the reported strike.
Iranian missiles fly over Amman, target US base in Saudi Arabia
(July 18, 2026)
Footage surfaced showing Iranian ballistic missiles flying over Amman, Jordan’s capital, reportedly targeting a U.S. military base in Saudi Arabia.
US attacks killed at least 50 people in Iran since July 6: Health Ministry
(July 18, 2026)
Iran’s Health Ministry says US attacks on the country since July 6 have killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 500.
Iran war live: US bomds Iran; Trump says killed soldiers ‘a sad thing’
The US launches new strikes on Iran after two American soldiers were killed in Iranian strikes in Jordan.
US President Donald Trump says the deaths were “a very sad thing”, adding that “we’re never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.
Two US service members killed, one missing following Iranian strikes in Jordan
The deaths bring the number of US service members who have died in the nearly five-month conflict to 16, according to the US military’s defense casualty analysis system.
West Asia war LIVE: Iran claims strikes on U.S. targets in Kuwait, Jordan
Iran accused U.S. forces of targeting civilian infrastructure, including an airport, a railway station and two bridges, and said it had struck U.S. assets across the region.
Live: US bombs Iran for seventh night running
Tehran threatens to resume ‚full-scale offensive operations‘
Iran Update Special Report, July 16, 2026
2. The United States has continued its effort to degrade the Iranian ability to attack commercial traffic around the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has also conducted strikes further inland, the purpose of which is unclear.
Iran to continue attacks until „calm returns to Strait of Hormuz“
The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, Seyed Majid Mousavi, announced that Iran will continue attacks „until calm returns to the southern coastline and the Strait of Hormuz”, according to Al Jazeera‘s reports of Iranian state media.
The statement comes as the IRGC has claimed responsibility for attacks on US military targets in Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, and Syria, Al Jazeera reports.
Musandam Governorate targeted by drones; Oman condemns attacks
Muscat: A security source reported that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones targeted sites in the Musandam Governorate.
The Sultanate of Oman condemned and denounced this attack and affirmed that it is taking all necessary measures to address these developments and safeguard the country and its residents, according to the official statement.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported an incident 9NM east of Oman.
A container ship has sustained damage to the rear of the vessel, which has caused a fire on board, UKMTO said.
IRGC Strikes Targets in Oman, Blasting Key Mediator’s Territory
(today)
The IRGC described the strikes as part of a “retaliatory operation” and claimed that the Strait of Hormuz remains “under the complete control” of its naval forces. The military branch also declared that these operations would continue.
The attack comes despite Oman serving as one of the primary mediators between Tehran and Washington in recent months, and follows previous assertions by Islamic Republic officials emphasising cooperation with Muscat regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
2026 Iranian strikes on Oman
From 28 February 2026, as part of the 2026 Iran war, Iran began launching a series of drone strikes on sites in Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, targeting the Port of Duqm and the Port of Salalah, which are used by the United States. Separate drone strikes targeted ports and industrial zones in Sohar, Bukha, and Mina Al Fahal, along with attacks in the Omani territorial waters of the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. The attacks killed 19 people and injured 26 others.
Iran risks its most valuable Arab partner over Hormuz
(July 14, 2026)
Iran‘s attack on facilities supporting US naval operations in Oman has plunged relations with one of Tehran‘s closest regional partners into their deepest crisis in decades, turning a dispute over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz into a direct military confrontation.
Relations deteriorated sharply after Iran‘s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said they had launched a „heavy and surprise attack“ on logistical support facilities and aircraft carrier refueling infrastructure at the Omani port of Duqm on Sunday.
Oman condemned what it described as „irresponsible acts“ and summoned Iran‘s ambassador in protest, marking a dramatic deterioration in relations between the two countries.
Iran criticises Oman over announcement of southern shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz
According to Iranian officials, Tehran considers itself responsible for managing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz under its interpretation of the memorandum of understanding with the United States and maintains that it has the authority to designate approved shipping routes.
Oman’s announcement that vessels could use a southern corridor within Omani territorial waters prompted criticism from Tehran.
According to the report, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that it could take action against vessels using routes outside those designated by Iranian authorities.