US-Iran War Highlights: US official says IRGC missile hit cargo ship, causing heavy damage

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said avenging his slain predecessor and father was "the ⁠demand ​of the nation" and "must certainly" take place.

Iran us War,A man rides a scooter past a giant billboard that shows the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, center, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, with Arabic writing that reads: "Thank you Iran", in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and his ⁠Omani ​counterpart exchanged views ​on “appropriate mechanisms” ​for the ⁠safe passage of ‌ships through the Strait ⁠of Hormuz ⁠in accordance ⁠with Article 5 ​of ‌the Islamabad ‌memorandum of ​understanding, ​Araqchi ​said on ​his Telegram channel ⁠on Saturday.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei earlier on Saturday said that avenging his slain predecessor and father was “the ⁠demand ​of the nation” and “must certainly” take place, according to ​a written ​message released ⁠on his Telegram account.

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US reiterates military option against Iran:  Senior US officials said Washington is insisting on several conditions for any agreement with Tehran, including strict limits on Iran’s nuclear programme and the transfer of its nuclear material. They also said the US has military options in place to ensure Iran’s nuclear sites remain inaccessible if diplomacy fails, Al Jazeera reported.

Iran Foreign Minister says ‘there can only be mutual compliance’ after US sanctions: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the Trump administration of breaching the interim agreement by imposing fresh sanctions, saying Tehran had “so far kept its word” while Washington had repeatedly violated its commitments. In a post on X, Araghchi said the sanctions marked another US breach of the memorandum of understanding and warned that “there can only be mutual compliance” going forward.

Latest developments:

  • Washington demands that Iran issue a public statement today pledging safe passage and to stop attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Iran’s Foreign Ministry have said that any US breach of its commitments under the MoU will be met with “reciprocal action”.
  • The US has imposed fresh Iran-related sanctions following Tehran’s resumption of attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Iran completed the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as leadership transition questions persist.

Follow The Indian Express Global Desk live coverage for the latest updates from the Middle East, the diplomatic corridors of Europe, and the evolving legal battles in Washington.

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Jul 12, 2026 05:58 AM IST

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Jul 12, 2026 05:57 AM IST

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Jul 12, 2026 05:43 AM IST
US official says strikes hit Iranian missile, drone and radar sites

A senior US official said American strikes targeted Iranian air surveillance radars, missile and drone storage facilities, missile and UAV launch sites, maritime surveillance radars and surface-to-air missile launchers, Axios reported.

Jul 12, 2026 05:22 AM IST
IRIB reports explosions in Bandar Abbas and Sirik

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported on Saturday that three explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas and two explosions in Sirik, both in southern Iran.

Jul 12, 2026 05:22 AM IST
US official says IRGC missile hit cargo ship, causing heavy damage - Axios

An IRGC missile struck a commercial cargo ship attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, causing heavy damage to the vessel, Axios cited a US official.

Jul 12, 2026 05:21 AM IST
Reports of explosions in Bushehr and Asaluyeh in southern Iran

Iran’s Press TV reported on Saturday explosions in Bushehr and Asaluyeh in southern Iran, without providing details on the cause or extent of any damage.

Jul 12, 2026 05:19 AM IST
US military strikes Iranian targets near Strait of Hormuz - Axios

The US military is conducting strikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz area, Axios reported on Saturday, citing a US official.

Jul 12, 2026 05:18 AM IST
US launches third round of strikes on Iran after IRGC attack on cargo ship

US Central Command said on Saturday its forces launched a third round of strikes against Iran this week after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps allegedly attacked the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said a civilian crew member is missing and the vessel cannot continue its voyage due to an onboard fire and significant engine-room damage.

“In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait. The strikes are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief,” CENTCOM posted on X.

Jul 12, 2026 04:24 AM IST
Araghchi discusses Strait of Hormuz, diplomatic efforts with Omani foreign minister

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the state of diplomatic efforts and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz during talks with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, in Muscat on Saturday, according to the official Oman News Agency (ONA).

The two officials discussed efforts to ensure safety and freedom of navigation in the strait “in light of the circumstances and repercussions arising from recent developments,” according to ONA.

They agreed to hold further technical and political talks, ONA reported.

Jul 12, 2026 04:23 AM IST
IRGC Navy says Strait of Hormuz temporarily closed until further notice

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy says it has temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz “until further notice”, according to IRIB, Iran’s state broadcaster.

In a statement reported by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the IRGC Navy said foreign interference and attempts to set what it called an “illegal route” for shipping through the strait would be met with a firm response.

It said several vessels had ignored warnings to correct their course and move within the approved route. One vessel, which it said had turned off its systems and endangered maritime security, was stopped after warning shots were fired.

The IRGC Navy said no vessels would be allowed to pass through the strait until US interference in the area ends.

Jul 11, 2026 10:00 PM IST
Iran, Oman discuss mechanisms for safe passage of ships through Hormuz strait: Tehran

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and his ⁠Omani ​counterpart exchanged views ​on "appropriate mechanisms" ​for the ⁠safe passage of ‌ships through the Strait ⁠of Hormuz ⁠in accordance ⁠with Article 5 ​of ‌the Islamabad ‌memorandum of ​understanding, ​Araqchi said on ​his Telegram channel ⁠on Saturday.

(Reuters)

Jul 11, 2026 08:33 PM IST
Qatari negotiators participating in talks with Iran, Oman on Strait of Hormuz in Muscat

Qatari negotiators are participating in talks with Iran and Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz in Muscat, Axios reported on Saturday.

Iran and Oman are discussing a potential statement to open the middle passage in the Strait of Hormuz for ships, the report added.

Jul 11, 2026 07:36 PM IST
US seeks Iranian pledge to free up Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Oman on Saturday to discuss arrangements for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington seeking a public pledge of free, secure transit.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday the US and Iran had agreed to continue talks despite an escalation of hostilities this week, while also declaring an end to the ceasefire reached between the two sides.

No attacks were reported on Friday or early Saturday, however, and a senior Iranian source told Reuters a call between Iran, the US, Qatar, and Pakistan had been agreed, and mediators were trying to arrange it for Saturday while Araqchi is in ⁠Oman.

(Reuters)

An Iranian woman prays near an Iranian flag, as preparations are underway ahead of a farewell ceremony for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at Enghelab Square in Tehran. (REUTERS file)

Jul 11, 2026 05:30 PM IST
US Democrat Ro Khanna detained by Israeli settlers during West Bank visit

US Democratic lawmaker Ro Khanna said he was detained by Israeli settlers armed with US-made rifles during a West Bank visit this week that he cast as an unfiltered look at the human toll of Israeli occupation as he weighs a 2028 presidential run.

Speaking with news agency Reuters on Thursday in a Palestinian village, Khanna said his group's van was surrounded by settlers wielding M4 rifles a day earlier while touring a part of the southern West Bank where residents face frequent settler attacks.

"We were at a village that Israeli settlers had destroyed; they had destroyed the school, they had destroyed that village, and we were just looking ⁠at it," ​said Khanna, a progressive lawmaker from California in the US House of Representatives.

"And these hoodlums come in with machine guns – M4, an American-made machine gun – and they detain us. They block off the road. And then they call the IDF and the IDF is on their side, not on the side of the Americans," Khanna said, referring to the Israeli military.

(Reuters)

Jul 11, 2026 05:14 PM IST
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei pledges revenge for slain father and predecessor

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Saturday that avenging his slain predecessor and father was "the ⁠demand ​of the nation" and "must certainly" take place, according to ​a written ​message released ⁠on his Telegram account.

Khamenei issued the message ‌on the occasion of funeral ceremonies for his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, held ⁠months after ⁠he was killed in the ⁠US-Israeli airstrikes ‌on February 28.

"We pledge to ‌avenge the blood of the ‌martyred ​leader ​and all ​the martyrs of these two ​wars from the ⁠criminal and disgraced killers," Khamenei said in ‌the ⁠message.

Jul 11, 2026 03:55 PM IST
Trump threatens Iran after open calls for the US leader's assassination during ayatollah's funeral

President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Saturday after the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saw open calls for the U.S. leader's killing, further underlining the tensions gripping the Middle East as an interim deal to end the war buckles under repeated crossfire in the region.Trump made the comments on his Truth Social after senior U.S. officials demanded that Iran make a public statement saying the Strait of Hormuz is open and that ships crossing the vital corridor won’t be attacked. So far, Tehran has not done so, instead insisting that the route remain under its control and that it be allowed to charge ships moving through it, upending decades of precedent that considers the strait an international waterway.There had been multiple days of U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran, as well as Iranian retaliatory fire targeting nations across the Middle East. Those strikes had been sparked by Iran attacking three ships in the strait earlier this week. On Truth Social on Friday, Trump declared the ceasefire over but said the U.S. would continue negotiations. AP

Jul 11, 2026 03:06 PM IST
Iran's Supreme Leader to issue message on Khamenei funeral: Report

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is expected to issue a message "in the coming hours" regarding the funeral of Ali Khamenei, Reuters reported citing Iranian state media.

Jul 11, 2026 02:53 PM IST
UN says Israeli demolitions displace 67 Palestinians in West Bank

At least 67 Palestinians have been displaced after Israeli authorities demolished 24 structures across the occupied West Bank, citing a lack of building permits, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The agency said that demolitions and settler attacks have displaced more than 3,200 Palestinians so far this year—an average of 17 people a day, double the daily rate recorded over the previous three years.

Jul 11, 2026 01:23 PM IST
Iran says blast near Tehran was controlled ammunition disposal

A loud explosion heard in eastern Tehran on Saturday was caused by a controlled ammunition disposal operation and posed no danger to residents, Iranian state media reported. An official told the Fars news agency that the blast, reported by residents in the Pakdasht and Qiyamdasht districts, was part of a planned disposal exercise.

Jul 11, 2026 12:56 PM IST
Pakistan PM speaks to Iran, Qatar leaders to revive US-Iran talks

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Friday, calling for renewed diplomatic efforts to revive the stalled US-Iran negotiations. During his conversation with Pezeshkian, Sharif expressed "deep concern" over the recent regional escalation and stressed the urgent need to restore peace and stability, according to Pakistan's Prime Minister's Office.

(PTI)

Jul 11, 2026 12:44 PM IST
Israel launches late-night airstrike on southern Lebanon's Nabatieh

The Israeli military carried out an airstrike on the outskirts of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon late Friday, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported. According to the agency, Israel followed up with a drone strike at the same location about five minutes later and also opened machinegun fire towards Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, a municipality overlooking the Litani River.

Jul 11, 2026 11:47 AM IST
Iranian FM Araghchi arrives in Oman for talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat on Saturday for talks with Omani officials, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. The discussions are expected to focus on bilateral ties and regional developments amid heightened tensions in the Gulf.

Jul 11, 2026 11:46 AM IST
Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon's Nabatieh: Report

The Israeli military carried out late-night air strikes on the outskirts of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA). The report said Israel launched a second drone strike on the same location about five minutes later, while machinegun fire also targeted Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, a municipality overlooking the Litani River.

Jul 11, 2026 11:29 AM IST
Iran says war caused $300 million in damage to research infrastructure

Iran's research infrastructure suffered about $300 million in damage during the war, Hossein Afshin, the country's vice president for science, technology and knowledge-based economy, said, according to state news agency IRNA.

Jul 11, 2026 10:32 AM IST
Iran FM says US breached MoU, calls for 'mutual compliance'

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday accused the United States of violating the memorandum of understanding (MoU), saying Tehran had "kept its word" while Washington had failed to uphold its commitments. In a post on X, Araghchi alleged the US Treasury Secretary had violated Paragraph 9 of the MoU and said: "Reality check: There can only be mutual compliance."

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Jul 11, 2026 09:28 AM IST
Trump warns Iran of 'complete decimation' over assassination threat

US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned Iran that the United States was prepared to "completely decimate" the country if Tehran succeeded in assassinating him. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said "1,000 missiles are locked and loaded" and claimed the "orders have been given" in the event of such an attack.

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