Latest war news. Rubio: ‘The US is open to dialogue, but Tehran is not taking the negotiations seriously’

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has stated that Iran “is not taking the negotiations seriously” to bring an end to the conflict. “The United States remains committed to diplomacy. We are open to dialogue and always willing to engage, negotiate and resolve differences”, said Rubio in his address at the meeting in Manila of the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as reported by CNN. “The problem we are facing now,” he added, “is that they are not taking the negotiations seriously. If they do, so will we. If they don’t, we will do whatever is necessary to protect our interests and those of our allies.”

Il Segretario di Stato americano Marco Rubio partecipa alla Conferenza post-ministeriale dell’ASEAN con gli Stati Uniti, a margine della riunione dei ministri degli Esteri dell’Associazione delle Nazioni del Sud-Est Asiatico (ASEAN) tenutasi a Pasay, nell’area metropolitana di Manila, nelle Filippine, mercoledì 22 luglio 2026. (Eloisa Lopez/Foto Pool via AP) Associated Press / LaPresse Solo Italia e Spagna

The Iranian army has stated that it attacked a US military base in Kuwait in response to “repeated aggression” by the United States.

In a statement reported by the Tasnim news agency, the army said it had launched “a large number of drones” against “ammunition depots and logistical facilities” belonging to the US army at Camp Doha, in western Kuwait.

US President Donald Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with the capacity to enrich uranium for its civilian nuclear programme. This was reported by two people familiar with the matter, who said the agreement is expected to be made public as early as today. The agreement is expected to run for 30 years and is also expected to involve US companies in the development of the programme. The agreement could allow for the construction of a uranium enrichment plant in Saudi Arabia following a joint study between the US and Saudi Arabia. However, according to one of the sources, it is not expected to include the IAEA Additional Protocol, which would allow for greater monitoring, inspections and verification.

“If we set a precedent in the Middle East whereby a state decides to control an international waterway, impose a toll and sink the ships of those who do not pay, we will have set a very dangerous precedent that could be repeated in other parts of the world, including this region.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made this statement in Manila, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), referring to the possibility of Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio’s remarks coincided with an announcement by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which reported that it had struck military targets in Iran for the eleventh consecutive night, as part of operations aimed at reducing Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial traffic in the strait. “Iran,” Rubio added, “claims the right – which is not recognised by any existing legal framework – to control the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. A fundamental principle is at stake: freedom of navigation. And this cannot be allowed.” The US Secretary of State’s remarks come as the region grapples with conflicting territorial claims between China and several ASEAN member states in the South China Sea, another crucial maritime route for global trade. Rubio finally reiterated that the United States “remains open to engaging in positive and constructive negotiations and discussions, provided that the commitments made are honoured. The problem we are facing is that they are not taking the negotiations seriously. If they are serious, so will we be. Otherwise,’ he concluded, ‘we will do whatever is necessary to protect our interests and those of our allies’.

The US Central Command (Centcom) has announced that it has successfully carried out its eleventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran. “Centcom forces have targeted Iranian military operational centres, naval assets, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities and military logistics infrastructure, with the aim of further weakening Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” a statement read. “Over the past three months, Iran has attacked more than 30 merchant ships transiting this international waterway, which is vital for regional and global trade,” Centcom added, “these unjustified attacks have endangered hundreds of innocent seafarers and compromised freedom of navigation”. “Despite Iranian aggression, the Strait of Hormuz remains open to the passage of merchant ships”, the statement concludes, “since the beginning of May, Centcom forces have helped facilitate the passage of around 900 merchant ships and 450 million barrels of crude oil”.

“Sources reported a few minutes ago that air defence activity had been heard to the west, east and north-east of Tehran.” This is how Iranian state television reported on Telegram, at around half past three in the morning, that air defence systems had been activated across the capital. State media also reported attacks in north-western and southern Iran, as well as explosions in the city of Bushehr, home to a nuclear power station.