UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi called on Iran on Monday to "re-engage" with him so inspections can resume at sites the US and Israel bombed a year ago, as the US led a push for a resolution to that effect at the agency's board. Iran still has not informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of what happened to those bombed nuclear sites or the nuclear material, including uranium enriched to near bomb grade, that was stored there. While the bombings destroyed or badly damaged uranium-enrichment facilities, much of the highly enriched uranium, including some enriched to up to 60%, a short step from the roughly 90% of weapons-grade, is thought to have survived. Communication channel 'broken' "It's very important that we re-engage," Grossi told the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors on the first day of a quarterly meeting. "I call on Iran to engage the Agency constructively in order to facilitate the full and effective implementation of safeguards in Iran," he added in a separate, written statement to the board, using a term that encompasses inspections. The IAEA has conducted some inspections at sites that were not bombed, but it halted those on safety grounds in February because of renewed military strikes, and has since only inspected Iran's operating power plant at Bushehr. "I have sporadic contacts with the foreign minister and others, but basically the channel of communication is broken," Grossi told a press conference after he addressed the board. At the same time, the US led a push, formally backed by Britain, France and Germany, for the board to pass a resolution later this week ordering Iran to provide "precise information" on the bombed sites and enriched uranium "without delay." While diplomats said the resolution was likely to pass by a clear margin, as a similar one did in November, it risked complicating talks between the United States and Iran aimed at extending their ceasefire and paving the way for wider talks on issues including Iran's nuclear program. Tehran warns the board "Responsibility for an internationally wrongful act rests with the perpetrator and cannot be transferred to the victim. The Board must not be instrumentalized to relieve those who carried out these attacks of their responsibility," Iran's mission to the IAEA said on X, referring to the draft resolution and the fact that the US bombed its nuclear facilities. Iran has bristled at previous board resolutions against it, usually responding by escalating its nuclear activities or scaling back cooperation with the IAEA. "The Board should be cautious on the path forward. Coercion and confrontation do not lead to cooperation. It undermines prospects of a diplomatic solution," it added. Israel and Iran exchanged military strikes late on Sunday and on Monday, and US President Donald Trump demanded that they "immediately stop 'shooting'." Speaking to the Financial Times on Sunday after Iran fired missiles at Israel, Trump said: "It's not going to have any impact on the deal (with Iran)."
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi called on Iran on Monday to "re-engage" with him so inspections can resume at sites the US and Israel bombed a year ago, as the US led a push for a resolution to that effect at the agency's board. Iran still has not informed the InternationâŚ
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A tanker identified as the Kaifan was struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Omanâs Limah in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a July 21 report from UK Maritime Trade Operations. No ships were observed transiting the strait that day. Attribution of the strike and links to prior incidents have not been confirmed by the vesselâs owner.
Goldman Sachs has projected Brent crude averaging $80 per barrel in the fourth quarter and $75 in the following year, conditional on reduced Middle East tensions, while noting upside risks from potential shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz or Red Sea.
Brent prices rose above $91 per barrel amid recent U.S.-Iran exchanges and Houthi threats to Saudi shipments before edging lower on Tuesday. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that mediators had proposed a 10-day ceasefire to preserve an interim agreement.
Opening summary: Iran claims attacks on strait of Hormuz ships amid fresh US strikes Welcome to our live coverage of the latest developments in the Middle East crisis. Iran attacked a tanker in the strait of Hormuz early on Tuesday, forcing its crew to abandon the ship, as Yemenâs Iran-backed Houthis announced they were imposing an immediate maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea after the two sides traded fire last week for the first time in years.
A Houthi official said the Bab al-Mandeb strait â at the southern end of the Red Sea, through which about 12% of the worldâs trade usually passes â would be closed to the Saudis in response to the kingdomâs âunjust blockade on Yemenis for over 10 yearsâ.
Saudi Arabia said it would take âall necessary measures to protect its vessels in accordance with international lawâ. A 10 consecutive night of US airstrikes has not compelled Tehran to loosen its grip on the strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies.
But even as Iranâs president said the country had returned âfull-scale warâ, the Iranian interior minister travelled to Pakistan â a key mediator in the conflict â for talks. In key developments: The latest US strikes came hours after Donald Trump said Iran would pay âmany times overâ for killing US soldiers after multiple service members were killed in action over the weekend.
A tanker came under attack early Tuesday in the Hormuz strait off Oman, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel, the British militaryâs United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said. Iranâs Revolutionary Guards claimed the attack as well as two other attacks on ships in the waterway on Monday.
The US militaryâs Central Command said its latest airstrikes were to âdegradeâ Iranâs ability to attack commercial shipping in the strait and included hitting military command centres and missile and drone launch sites. Iranian media reported strikes in parts of the country including Bandar Abbas, Tabriz and Bushehr, home to the countryâs only operational civilian nuclear power.
Iranâs launched attacks in response against Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, which all host US forces. Oil prices softened after hitting their highest levels in more than a month in the previous session. Brent crude futures eased 0.4% to $88.87 a barrel by 0052 GMT on Tuesday while US West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery was steady at $82.
47 a barrel. Democrats have seized on the deaths of three US troops killed in Iranian strikes to urge Trump to urgently reverse his resumption of the war with Iran amid widespread anxiety over climbing casualties. The Lebanese army began taking charge of security in three southern villages, the US said, as a deal to secure an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah faced its first test on the ground.
US forces struck the tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman on June 10, killing three Indian crew members when munitions hit the engine room and adjacent areas. Maritime tracking data indicate the vessel had transported Iranian oil under US sanctions for several years and conducted offshore transfers prior to the strike.
The US military described the action as a precision operation, while reports note the ship was stationary at the time.