Iran to ‘pursue diplomacy based on its national interests’
Tehran pursues war and diplomacy based on its national interests, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, after being asked whether the door to talks with the U.S. was now closed.
“I reject the duality of either war or diplomacy. Diplomacy is a tool through which we pursue our national interests, just like war,” Esmaeil Baghaei said.
James Reynolds20 July 2026 10:00
Recap: Two US service members killed by Iranian attacks in Jordan, military says
At least two U.S. service members were killed in action while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan, marking the first American deaths in the aftermath of a tenuous ceasefire agreement earlier this year, according to U.S. Central Command.
Another service member is missing after Friday’s attacks, according to the Department of Defense.
Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged, Central Command announced Saturday.
James Reynolds20 July 2026 09:30
Oil prices up 2 per cent as Iran and US inch closer to all out war
Oil prices jumped more than 2% on Monday, with Brent crude above $90 a barrel as the U.S. and Iran moved closer to resuming an all-out war.
Brent crude, the international standard, rose 2.6% to $90.40 per barrel and benchmark U.S. crude climbed 2.2% to $83.58 per barrel.
Early Monday, the U.S. announced more attacks for a ninth straight night. Iran has been responding to strikes by hitting U.S.-allies across the Middle East.
“The U.S. and Iran continue to exchange strikes, which are proving to be deadly for both sides,” ING commodities strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote in a commentary Monday.
“If this escalation goes unchecked, we could return to an environment of wide-scale attacks across the Persian Gulf.”
James Reynolds20 July 2026 09:00
Latest: US and Iran trade strikes for a ninth day
Here’s the latest on Monday morning:
– The United States said it had struck Iran for a ninth consecutive day.
– Explosions were heard in Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
– The IRGC said meanwhile that they had targeted US aircraft in Jordan, as well as US military assets and equipment in Kuwait and in Syria. Sirens also sounded in Bahrain.
– The UKMTO reported on an attack on a ship off Oman. It was not immediately reported what hit it, but the crew made it off safely.
– Oil rose by more than 2 per cent on Monday as both sides inched closer to all out war.
A heavily-damaged bridge which was hit by a US strike on the road connecting Roudan and Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on July 18 (AFP/Getty)
James Reynolds20 July 2026 08:30
Trump ‘planning return to wider war’: US official
An American official familiar with internal talks tells the Washington Post that the US is preparing for a return to a “wider war” following days of escalatory strikes.
The official cautions that any operations will be limited by stockpile shortages of air defences and long-range munitions, however.
“We do not have enough to safely sustain operations, and I don’t think the White House is aware of that,” the official says.
James Reynolds20 July 2026 08:00
New: Vessel struck with unknown projectile off Oman, says UKMTO
The UKMTO agency is reporting that a vessel has been struck off Oman’s Kumzar.
They say it was hit by an as yet unknown projectile, and that the crew has safely abandoned the ship.
The vessel is currently adrift and the fire on board is yet to be extinguished, they say.
James Reynolds20 July 2026 07:53
Gulf states intercept drones and missiles as attacks intensify
Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan reported intercepting Iranian drones and missiles as attacks across the region intensified.
Bahrain’s ministry of interior activated warning sirens and urged residents to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place”, while the US embassy in Manama warned American citizens that Iran may be planning attacks on the capital and advised them to take precautionary measures.
Kuwait’s military said it was responding to a series of drone attacks, while Jordan reported intercepting at least three missiles, with another landing in an open area.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had targeted a weapons depot and air defence radar system in Kuwait, though Kuwaiti authorities have not confirmed those claims and instead said they were dealing with the aftermath of an attack on a power and water desalination facility.
The strike on civilian infrastructure has drawn condemnation from countries across the region.
Maroosha Muzaffar20 July 2026 07:30
Oil prices climb above $90 a barrel as US-Iran tensions escalate
Oil prices climbed above $90 a barrel as escalating US-Iran tensions disrupted concerns over crude supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.
Brent crude rose more than 2 per cent to $90.19 a barrel, reaching its highest level since 11 June, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also gained to $84.20 a barrel.
The latest surge followed the US carrying out a ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, along with reports of fresh Iranian attacks on Gulf states.
Maroosha Muzaffar20 July 2026 07:11
Shipping data shows traffic through Strait of Hormuz remains limited
Shipping data showed that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained limited over the weekend as the US and Iran intensified their attacks, according to Sky News.
According to LSEG data, only four vessels crossed the strategic waterway on Sunday, down from eight the previous day.
Since Friday, at least three oil tankers and one Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) have entered the strait to load oil.
The LSEG data tracks the movement of various types of vessels, including container ships, bulk carriers, vehicle carriers, and tankers transporting oil, gas and chemicals.
Maroosha Muzaffar20 July 2026 07:10
Iran reports explosions in multiple cities as US strikes continue for ninth night
During the ninth night of US strikes on Iran, Iranian state media reported explosions in several locations, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini.
Iranian authorities have not yet provided details on any casualties or the extent of damage caused by the attacks.
A reported strike on Tabriz, located in north-western Iran, would represent a broader expansion of US targets, which in recent days have mainly focused on areas in southern Iran and locations near the Strait of Hormuz, the Guardian reported.
Maroosha Muzaffar20 July 2026 06:50