US Secretary Rubio says US open to diplomacy but Iran can’t be allowed to control Hormuz

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has rejected as “false and baseless” allegations by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot that two employees of the French Embassy in Tehran were intimidated by Iranian authorities.

Mohammad Tanhaei, head of the ministry’s Second Department for Western Europe, said the two French nationals had attended a meeting on July 19 with several individuals under investigation on security-related charges and were briefly questioned after security personnel discovered documents allegedly linked to anti-security activities.

Iran’s caretaker Defense Minister, Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Ibn al-Reza, said the country’s indigenous technological capabilities enabled it to counter an adversary equipped with some of the world’s most advanced military systems during the recent conflict.

He praised Iranian scientists and engineers for expanding the country’s military capabilities through domestic research and development, arguing that their technical expertise and rapid adaptation had surprised global technological powers.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is ready for negotiations with Iran if Tehran shows genuine commitment to resolving the conflict, keeping the possibility of diplomacy open.

Speaking in Manila, Rubio said the US would respond seriously to any serious Iranian effort for talks, while warning that Washington would take necessary steps to protect its interests if diplomacy fails.

The comments come as fighting continues across the region, with tensions rising over the Strait of Hormuz, military strikes, and accusations of violating previous agreements.

Both sides have expressed willingness for dialogue while blaming each other for the breakdown, leaving uncertainty over whether diplomatic efforts can lead to a breakthrough.

US forces launched heavy airstrikes on Iranian cities and military sites for the 11th consecutive night, targeting military centres, naval facilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage and logistics infrastructure.

Explosions were reported in several areas, including Khuzestan, Tabriz, Chabahar and Konarak. Iranian air defence systems were activated in parts of Tehran and Mahabad.

Two explosions were also reported near Bushehr, home to Iran’s nuclear power plant, although no direct damage was confirmed.

Iran warned that attacks on its nuclear facilities could widen the conflict and trigger a strong response. Meanwhile, CENTCOM said Iran had targeted more than 30 commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched missiles at the US Army’s Arifjan base in Kuwait, claiming the strikes affected the country’s power infrastructure.

Iran also announced the addition of a new anti-aircraft system to its air defence network and said damaged systems had been repaired. The IRGC said the attacks were part of its ongoing retaliation for US strikes.

Kuwait urged residents to reduce electricity consumption amid concerns over power disruptions during extreme heat.

Meanwhile, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan said their air defence systems intercepted and destroyed several Iranian drones and missiles before they reached their targets.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers the US-Israel war on Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, as the Pentagon seeks approval for a $1.5 trillion defense budget.

The latest estimate is about $8 billion higher than the administration’s May figure, reflecting the continued escalation of the conflict.

Hegseth also warned that the war is straining US weapons stockpiles and said additional funding is needed to boost ammunition production and military readiness.

The growing cost comes as fighting intensifies across the Middle East, with no clear signs of a ceasefire or diplomatic breakthrough.

The secretary of the International Lullaby Festival, Maziar Rezakhani, announced that the event will be held in international and domestic sections, with participation open to artists from around the world.

He said the festival aims to showcase maternal love and lullabies as a universal language shared by mothers across different cultures and nations.

Rezakhani said the festival will focus on the attack on Minab on the first day of the war launched by the United States and Israel in early February. He added that the event seeks to draw attention to the incident and challenge what he described as efforts to hide or distort its details.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it carried out attacks on US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait as part of an operation it called “Thunderbolt.”

The IRGC claimed the attacks destroyed US radar and air defense equipment, while missile strikes in Kuwait targeted American communications systems, military facilities, and an MQ-9 drone hangar.

The statement further claimed that drone strikes targeted a helicopter camp area at Al Udeid and the residential quarters of US military personnel at Al Jaber Air Base.

Iran said an oil tanker traveling along a US-designated route in the Strait of Hormuz was targeted overnight despite reportedly switching off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) to avoid detection. It described the vessel as the third oil tanker to be struck in regional waters within the past 24 hours.

According to the statement, the incident demonstrates that disabling AIS cannot prevent attacks and reflects what Tehran called violations of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran further claimed that current maritime conditions have made the northern shipping corridor, coordinated by Tehran, the safest route for commercial traffic.

Iran’s women’s national taekwondo team concluded its campaign at the Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships with five medals, including one gold, one silver, and three bronze.

Hana Zarrinkamar led the Iranian team by winning the gold medal, while Olympic medalist Nahid Kiani earned silver. Saina Karimi, Saghar Moradi, and Baran Nemati each secured bronze medals, contributing to Iran’s overall medal haul.

Despite those exits, Iran finished the tournament with a strong overall performance in the women’s competition.

Iran’s Permanent Mission said the United States launched a missile strike on the Darkhoveyn nuclear site on July 19. It described the attack as the eighteenth strike on safeguarded Iranian nuclear facilities since June 2025.

The mission rejected US nonproliferation justifications and called them misleading and deceptive. It warned that repeated attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities were becoming normalized due to international inaction.

Iran urged the UN Security Council, the IAEA, and the international community to strongly condemn the alleged strike. It also said the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran had asked IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to take effective action.

US defense analysts are assessing whether recent American strikes and the deployment of more than 50,000 troops in the Middle East could indicate preparations for a limited ground operation against Iran.

The US has expanded its strikes beyond military systems, targeting infrastructure, ports, and transport routes in Iran’s southern regions, raising questions about possible future objectives.

However, experts say a large-scale invasion appears unlikely due to the massive troop requirements needed. A smaller operation remains possible but unconfirmed.

Iran has warned that any US ground presence would lead to a wider war, while targeting locations it considers potential staging points for American forces.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim they targeted infrastructure linked to US company Amazon in Bahrain as part of Operation Nasr 2. The claim has not been independently verified by Bahrain, US officials, or Amazon.

The IRGC said the strike was a response to a US attack on facilities in Iran, including the Darkhovin nuclear power plant. Tehran has demanded international condemnation over the strike, citing concerns over attacks on nuclear sites under IAEA safeguards.

If confirmed, the attack would represent a major expansion of the conflict, shifting from military targets to major US corporate infrastructure in the Gulf region.

The claim comes amid a series of Iranian statements about strikes across the region, many of which remain unverified. Any confirmed attack on Amazon-related facilities could raise concerns for Gulf security, businesses, and civilian infrastructure.

The US State Department has issued a worldwide security alert, urging American citizens to exercise extra caution amid rising tensions with Iran and warning that the situation could escalate unexpectedly.

The advisory encourages Americans to reconsider travel to or through the Middle East, reflecting concerns over expanding regional instability, attacks on shipping routes, and threats against US interests.

The warning also highlights possible risks to US diplomatic facilities and American-linked locations worldwide, amid fears of retaliatory attacks following the growing conflict.

The alert comes as US military casualties rise and tensions spread across the region, with Washington closely monitoring developments that could further impact American citizens abroad.

The Pentagon has confirmed nearly 100 US troops were wounded in the past two weeks during the conflict with Iran, with most already returning to duty.

The casualties come after deadly attacks on US bases in Jordan and Iraq, raising concerns that the death toll could increase further.

The rising number of injuries highlights the growing intensity of the conflict and increasing risks for American forces in the region.

Escalating tensions, including threats to shipping routes, have raised fears of a wider Middle East confrontation.

Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement has announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, expanding tensions linked to the US-Iran conflict and raising concerns over regional security.

The move threatens the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key route for Saudi oil exports and global shipping, especially as the Strait of Hormuz faces ongoing disruptions.

The Saudi-led coalition has vowed a forceful response and begun protective measures for ships passing through the Red Sea corridor.

The escalation, along with rising US military casualties, increases fears of wider conflict and further pressure on global energy supplies.

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, condemned recent US strikes on southern Iran, accusing Washington of targeting civilian sites.

He described the attacks, including strikes on a school, areas near a children’s cancer hospital, and residential neighborhoods, as evidence of America’s “desperation” in confronting Iran.

Azizi praised the people of southern Iran, calling the region the “bastion of Iran’s defence,” and expressed solidarity with communities affected by the reported attacks.

He also warned that Iran’s armed forces would not overlook civilian casualties and vowed that those responsible for the strikes would face consequences.

Iran says US diplomatic contacts continue through mediators despite ongoing strikes.

Oil prices ease as markets react to signs of possible dialogue.

Brent crude falls after rising above $91 amid Strait of Hormuz tensions.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that two oil tankers were damaged by explosions while using the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC said the vessels had taken what it described as an unsafe route under pressure from the US military and ignored warnings from Iranian forces before the incident, forcing both ships to stop. It did not identify the tankers, explain the cause of the explosions, or report any casualties. Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a vessel on fire near Kumzar, Oman. Iran warned the Strait would remain unsafe while US military operations continue.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it carried out strikes on key US military facilities in Kuwait in response to recent American attacks on Iranian territory. In a statement, the IRGC said it destroyed a US early warning radar system in Qatar using a drone strike. It also claimed to have targeted equipment and aircraft parts hangars at Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base. The group further said it struck an MQ-9 drone base in Kuwait and destroyed several drones. According to the IRGC, the attacks were launched as retaliation for recent US military strikes against Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the war with the United States will end only after Iran gains the upper hand on the battlefield. In an interview with an Iranian news agency, he said the conflict could end through either complete military victory or negotiations. However, he stressed that talks should begin only after Iran achieves clear military and strategic success. Araghchi said leaders must make careful decisions based on the country’s future and the cost of continuing the war. Despite suffering losses, he claimed Iran has emerged stronger from the conflict and demonstrated the strength of its political system and international standing.

Oil prices rose more than 2% on Monday as escalating US-Iran tensions disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude climbed to $90.19 per barrel, while US WTI reached $84.20, both hitting their highest levels in over a month. The conflict intensified after the US launched a ninth straight night of strikes on Iran, while Kuwait and Bahrain reported new Iranian attacks. Iran claimed two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, though Reuters could not verify the claim. Analysts warned the ongoing conflict could disrupt global oil supplies, with vessel traffic through the strategic waterway already falling significantly.