Latest war news. Escalation in the West Bank: settlers set fire to two mosques. Oil tanker explodes after hitting a mine in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran threatens Ukraine

Iran has accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian merchant ship and killing a sailor: the attack “cannot go unanswered”, said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who described the incident as a “flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter carried out on Israel’s orders to drag Europe into its war”. This was reported by Al Arabiya.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that he “fully” supports Donald Trump’s efforts to weaken Iran and pressure Tehran into ending its nuclear programme. “If he can do so without returning to intense military clashes, that’s fine. Why not?”, said Netanyahu, adding that he would not be presenting any new information “to our good friend” Trump but would listen to “what he has in mind, because I think that in many ways it is his decision”. Netanyahu is due to travel to the United States and meet Trump in Washington on Tuesday, according to a statement from his office.

The last meeting between the two took place in Washington in February, a few weeks before they launched the war against Iran, which resulted in the deaths of senior leaders, including the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, launched attacks against Israel two days after the war began, and Israel responded with air strikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon. Since then, the United States has facilitated important direct talks between Lebanon and Israel in an attempt to ease tensions on that front and find a way to disarm Hezbollah.

Iran has confirmed to Pakistan that it is willing to continue negotiations with the United States in Geneva, Doha or Islamabad. This was reported by Al Arabiya, citing a source. According to the broadcaster, Tehran has informed Pakistan – the mediating country – that the negotiations must continue in accordance with the memorandum of understanding. In particular, according to the source, Iran is seeking to resume talks first on the Strait of Hormuz, then on its frozen assets and finally on its nuclear programme. Iran has also informed Pakistan that it rejects the creation of a new corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Israeli Security Council, a select body within the Tel Aviv government, has approved Israel’s membership of the ‘Board of Peace’ – the council for peace in the Gaza Strip established by US President Donald Trump to oversee the political transition and post-war reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

Haaretz points out that the decision came on the eve of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s departure for Washington. The newspaper reports that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voted against the decision.

Iran’s nuclear programme “must be brought to an end, with or without a deal”. This is what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during an interview with Fox News, on the eve of his departure for the US, where he is due to meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump is giving the talks with Iran “a bit of breathing space”. “He’s giving them a bit of leeway,” US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News, without providing further details on the content of the talks, whilst a truce was observed over the weekend in the clashes between Iran and the United States. The Pentagon has suspended bombing operations after 13 nights of increasingly intense attacks, and there were no reports of Iranian attacks against neighbouring countries over the weekend. Asked about the pause, a senior Trump administration official said yesterday that the President “has always made it clear that he prefers diplomacy, but has shown Iran what will happen if they do not sit down at the negotiating table in earnest”.

During the Angelus at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV issued an appeal for ‘the whole of the Middle East, where an escalation in military operations has brought renewed violence and destruction, seriously endangering the lives of numerous civilians and exacerbating the shortage of drinking water and electricity’. “From the depths of my heart,” the Pope said, “I urge all parties involved to suspend attacks and to urgently reopen channels of dialogue and diplomacy in order to achieve, as soon as possible, the peace so dearly desired for the entire region.”

“Iran is prepared to punish the Israeli-American enemy severely and in a most deplorable manner should it engage in reckless actions.” This was stated by Ali Nikzad, Deputy Speaker of the Iranian Parliament. “The American people should rein in their cruel president before American soldiers return home in their coffins,” he continued. “The current situation in the Strait of Hormuz will never return to the conditions that existed before the US attacks, so we advise the delusional American president to take the wool out of his ears and leave our region before suffering a defeat worse than the last,” he said. According to the Tasnim news agency, Nikzad also criticised European countries: “We have tolerated the sabotage by European governments in recent years. We warn them – in particular the new British government and parliament, Bulgaria and Ukraine – not to play into America’s hands and to refrain from taking actions that do not concern them.”

Commercial traffic at the border crossing between Iran and Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region has fallen significantly following the resumption of hostilities between the United States and Tehran. On Saturday, a number of lorries laden with goods were waiting at the Haji Omeran crossing in the Kurdish region of Iraq, whilst the authorities carried out checks before authorising their passage. “The situation isn’t good; trade and the movement of lorries have been affected by the resumption of hostilities and have become more difficult,” says Khadir Rahim, an Iranian lorry driver.

An oil tanker is reported to have exploded today in the Strait of Hormuz after striking and detonating a naval mine. This was reported by the Iranian news agency Tasnim. The oil tanker had deviated from the route designated by Iran, reports the Defa Press news agency, citing an informed source. “An hour ago, an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, which had deviated from the route specified by the Islamic Republic of Iran, exploded after striking a naval mine,” the source said.

Navi da carico avvistate a un'estremità dello Stretto di Ormuz, vicino alla costa di Dibba Al Fujairah, negli Emirati Arabi Uniti, il 21 luglio 2026. EPA/STRINGER

“There are still around 6,500 people and 500 ships stranded in the Persian Gulf since the conflict began five months ago.” This was stated in an interview with *La Repubblica* by Arsenio Dominguez, a Panamanian and Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation, the specialised agency of the United Nations that sets international rules for the safety of navigation, the protection of crews and the prevention of pollution caused by ships. With the attacks in the Red Sea, he further admits, maritime transport is the victim of ‘a global crisis’. ‘The situation remains critical. Over the last twelve days, there has been no progress in the Strait of Hormuz and the passage of ships has almost completely ground to a halt, because it is not safe. The longer crews remain stranded, the greater the challenges for their wellbeing, mental health and fatigue. Supplies are also running low and, with summer approaching, it is getting increasingly hot in the region. Nothing will change until there is a de-escalation. Until then, ships must not attempt to pass through, as they risk being struck,” adds Dominguez.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned Israel and the United Kingdom against supporting and aiding the United States in its war of aggression against Iran. In a statement released by the Iranian news agency ISNA, the Pasdaran spokesperson, Brigadier General Hossein Mohebi stated that Israel is seeking to keep the United States engaged in the region by influencing US President Donald Trump and providing misleading information, ‘using American power to further its own objectives’. “Israel knows what we would do to it if it went to war again and we focused our efforts against it,” he emphasised.

Mohebi also warned that the UK’s continued support for US B-1 bomber operations could make British air bases legitimate targets.

“Tomorrow I will be travelling to Washington to meet President Trump, with whom I will discuss all the issues on the agenda, including the situation in Iran.” This was stated by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu, at the start of today’s cabinet meeting, which, according to Israeli media reports, was moved at the last minute to an underground complex on the orders of the security forces, in light of the regional escalation. Netanyahu also referred to the escalation in the West Bank. “Our instructions were to enter the villages, search them, seize weapons and arrest wanted individuals. These actions have been carried out and are ongoing, and we are also prepared to take more extensive action against terrorist hideouts,” he said.

Il primo ministro israeliano Benjamin Netanyahu interviene durante una cerimonia per commemorare il 50° anniversario dell’Operazione Entebbe presso la residenza presidenziale a Gerusalemme, il 12 luglio 2026. L’Operazione Entebbe ebbe luogo nel luglio 1976, quando Israele inviò un’unità delle forze speciali per liberare 106 passeggeri israeliani che erano stati presi in ostaggio da militanti tedeschi e palestinesi e trattenuti all’aeroporto di Entebbe, in Uganda. Gli ostaggi furono liberati durante un raid delle forze speciali israeliane. Il comandante dell’operazione, Yoni (Yonatan Netanyahu), fratello del primo ministro Benjamin Netanyahu, rimase ucciso durante la missione di salvataggio. EPA/ABIR SULTAN

Iran has stated that it has halted its retaliatory attacks in the region after the United States suspended its air strikes on the country. “Over the past two nights, the Americans have halted their attacks. As our strategy is essentially based on retaliation, we too have suspended our operations,” said army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia in an interview on state television.

The war in the Middle East will escalate if the United States chooses to continue its attacks against the Islamic Republic, ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. This is the warning issued by the Iranian army. “I believe that if the Americans fall once again into the Zionists’ trap, or side with them, and insist on continuing the war – particularly with air raids – geographically it will spread further,” said army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia on state television. “Iran is taking measures to safeguard its rights over the Strait of Hormuz, as the United States has breached the commitments it made under the memorandum of understanding and has sought to create a false and illegal shipping lane through the Strait,” he emphasised, as quoted by state television. “The Iranian army has targeted US bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain – the most important American bases in the region – as the focus of its retaliatory operations,” he added.

The US military has stated that it opened fire on another merchant ship that was attempting to breach the blockade of Iranian ports, whilst the Islamic Republic has targeted American strongholds in the Persian Gulf. US forces disabled the M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel had attempted to break through the blockade at least four times, Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, told the Associated Press. Hawkins emphasised that the ship’s crew had been warned but failed to comply with orders. The military then opened fire on the engine room. This is the second merchant vessel to have been disabled since the military reimposed the blockade. The United States and Iran have shown no sign of backing down from the conflict following the thirteenth consecutive night of attacks. With fighting reigniting and diplomacy in a state of uncertainty, both sides have taken steps that suggest the possibility of an escalation. At the heart of the conflict lies the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint for global energy supplies that has been effectively blocked by Iranian attacks, causing fuel prices to soar and triggering a widespread economic crisis.

“The US naval blockade against Iran remains fully in force. As of yesterday, Centcom had diverted 12 commercial vessels attempting to breach it, detaining two that had failed to respond to warnings and boarding two vessels to ensure full compliance with instructions.” This is according to a statement published on X by the US Central Command, which specified that yesterday US forces “completed an on-board inspection of a vessel flying the Comoros flag in the Arabian Sea, and the oil tanker is now continuing its journey”. On Friday, however, Centcom forces stopped a ‘vessel flying the Mozambican flag in the Gulf of Oman, after the crew had repeatedly attempted to breach the blockade and ignored repeated warnings. The vessel is no longer en route to Iran. US forces – the post concludes – remain on high alert, focused, lethal and ready.”

Iran has accused Ukraine of attacking one of its merchant ships on Saturday in the Caspian Sea, killing one sailor and injuring another, according to the official Irna news agency. According to the source, which cites the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Saturday morning’s attack caused an explosion on board the vessel. “The attack carried out by the Ukrainian regime against an Iranian merchant ship in the Caspian Sea, explicitly claimed by the head of that regime, demonstrates the Ukrainian regime’s persistent irrational and hostile attitude’ towards Iran, the Ministry protested, as reported by IRNA. The Islamic Republic “has never intervened in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine”, it stated.

“The Iranian and Omani deputy foreign ministers met in Tehran on Friday and Saturday to discuss the management of the Strait of Hormuz. ‘The talks were constructive and led to progress,’ said the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghae, on Sunday. ‘At present, the traffic situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains unchanged.’ However, “during the talks in Tehran, the two sides exchanged views on common principles and operational mechanisms for the safe management of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, whilst respecting the sovereign rights of the two coastal states. Iran and Oman are continuing their technical and political consultations,” added Baghaei, as quoted by the Iranian news agency Tasnim.

“Recently, US B-1 bombers have used British airfields to attack Iran. Any country – be it the United Kingdom, the Persian Gulf states or others – will be our legitimate target if it supports the United States in the war,” said the spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Mohebi, quoted by Tasnim, adding: “We have our own plan for every situation.” The Pasdaran also issued a warning to Israel: “The Israelis know what will happen to them if they return to war. We will focus on them. By provoking the US President and providing false information, Israel wants to keep the US in the region and promote its own objectives by exploiting American power.” Mohebi also stated that “over 200 American soldiers were killed” in the Iranian operation Nasr-2 and that the number of wounded is much higher than that announced by the United States.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claims that the United States has deliberately breached the Iran-US memorandum of understanding by opening an alternative shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and diverting ships away from the corridors designated by Tehran. This has been reported by the Iranian media.

Abbas Aeagchi, ministro degli esteri dell’Iran, durante una riunione del consiglio dei ministri degli esteri dell’Organizzazione per la cooperazione di Shanghai (Sco)

Donald Trump has shelved, for the time being, plans for a ‘significant escalation’ of the military offensive against Iran, fearing that the Pentagon’s already depleted stocks of Patriot interceptors and ammunition for air defence in the Middle East might run out. The change of course, writes the New York Times, came during the President’s meeting on Friday with key advisers and members of the administration, according to two well-informed sources. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned in private that, whilst possible, the fighting would ‘dangerously’ deplete the interceptors available to Centcom.