The US sanctions 8 mainland Chinese and Hong Kong shipping companies for operating vessels that transported Iranian oil to China and the UAE, amid ongoing economic campaign against Tehran.
Chinese scientists used satellite imagery to assess damage to US Middle East bases, finding US 'minimal damage' and Iranian 'massive strikes' claims overstated. Analysis published despite US 'shutter control' on high-resolution satellite imagery over conflict zones.
Iran said US actions have blocked meaningful talks and that any future negotiations will follow only its national interests. The Strait of Hormuz remains the main pressure point as oil markets, shipping and Iran’s domestic economy stay under strain.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi states Iran's actions are targeted against the US, not neighboring Middle Eastern countries, with plans for post-conflict dialogue and trust restoration.
Oman and Iran held talks on ensuring safe shipping through the Hormuz Strait, respecting both nations' sovereign rights, with progress made and ongoing technical/political consultations.
Iran's military claims to have targeted US bases in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait with drones in retaliation for US strikes, though damage and casualties are unconfirmed by the US; Jordan confirms intercepting Iranian missiles/drone attacks with no casualties.
Drones carrying explosives targeted a city in northern Iraq where US forces are stationed, while sirens rang out in Bahrain. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for targeting an Amazon data center in Bahrain, hours after the US completed its 13th night of strikes against Iran, escalating regional tensions.
US missiles struck targets in Iran, including the Caspian coast and Ahvaz, killing four. This followed Iran's attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, and Jordan intercepting Iranian missiles. The escalation comes after Trump vowed "major military punishment" for Iran and its Houthi allies over a Red Sea blockade.
The U.S. continues airstrikes on Iran, which retaliates against U.S. targets in the Gulf, escalating regional tensions. President Trump considers a "massive attack" as the UN warns of an unimaginable crisis. Oil prices fluctuate, and Houthi rebels attack Saudi tankers, drawing further threats.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned at an SCO meeting that any country aiding US aggression against Iran would be a legitimate target for its armed forces, reaffirming Tehran's right to self-defense amid ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.
US President Donald Trump threatened to use frozen Iranian assets to pay for damages to ships and cargo in the Gulf, a move Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi called an "incendiary precedent." This comes amidst US strikes on Iran and Houthi threats to Red Sea shipping.
Tehran rejected a US ceasefire proposal, delivered by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, citing its failure to address the Strait of Hormuz issue, as reported by The New York Times.
US President Donald Trump announced he is close to deciding on a "massive attack" on Iran, escalating tensions after Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The US warns of "major military punishment" for Iran and Houthis, while the EU condemns the Red Sea strikes.
Donald Trump stated he is close to deciding on a "massive attack" against Iran, larger than previous strikes, as oil prices surge and regional tensions escalate. This follows US strikes on Iran and Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers, prompting diplomatic withdrawals and UN warnings of a region on the "edge of the unimaginable."
Iraq's new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visited the US and Iran, reflecting Baghdad's ongoing challenge to balance relations with both powers amid regional rivalries. His trips aim to deepen economic ties with the US and manage complex security and economic reliance on Iran, while asserting Iraq's independence.
The US and Saudi Arabia signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement, potentially allowing Saudi uranium enrichment. The deal, which faces congressional review, is controversial due to nonproliferation concerns and its timing amidst US efforts to prevent Iran's nuclear weapon development.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis claimed striking two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, naming them Encelia and Layla. This occurred as the US conducted its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets, further escalating regional tensions.
US President Trump approved a civil nuclear deal allowing Saudi Arabia to build reactors with American technology and potentially enrich uranium, sparking concerns of a Middle East nuclear arms race. The accord, a contrast to the UAE deal, aims to strengthen US-Saudi ties and counter Russian/Chinese influence, but critics warn of proliferation risks and foreign policy incoherence given US actions against Iran.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis claimed striking two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, while the US conducted its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets. This escalates regional tensions, with Trump threatening Iran and Iran vowing "eye for an eye" retaliation, impacting global shipping.
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said no one in the region would be allowed to sell oil if Iran is denied that opportunity. He also said security in the Strait of Hormuz is possible only if no American forces are present.
President Trump pledged the US would bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure, including bridges or power plants in Tehran, for every Iranian attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. This threat follows Iranian attacks that killed US troops and retaliatory strikes in the Gulf, raising concerns about escalating conflict.
Iran's IRGC representative Hossein Mohebi warned shipping companies that the southern routes through the Strait of Hormuz are mined, advising against passage due to the ongoing escalation in the US-Iranian conflict that began on July 8.
The US launched its 12th consecutive night of strikes against Iran, targeting infrastructure to degrade its ability to threaten maritime traffic. Iran retaliated against US allies and warned "no infrastructure will be safe" if its security isn't guaranteed, leading to an escalation of attacks and abandonment of an interim peace deal.
The US and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark deal for a civilian nuclear program in the Gulf country, with Washington insisting on non-proliferation safeguards. The agreement, signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, lays the foundation for a multibillion-dollar partnership amidst US concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
