Tehran: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone in Ahvaz, a city in the Khuzestan region that borders Iraq, state-run Press TV reported. An MQ-9 is a "large, remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicle designed primarily for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and air strikes," according to a description by the US Air Force. Track live updates of US-Iran war here The development comes amid a sharp escalation in regional hostilities, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) carrying out a series of military operations targeting Iranian assets. The strikes mark an "eighth consecutive night" of kinetic actions against Tehran-backed facilities in the region. According to an official statement released on X, the operation was executed late Saturday under direct authorisation from the White House. "US Central Command (CENTCOM) completed another round of strikes against Iran on July 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET, at the Commander in Chief's direction," the statement read. Authorised by US President Donald Trump, the military engagement was also "designed to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM stated. During the operational sweep, American forces engaged multiple strategic locations, focusing heavily on degradation operations. The strikes successfully hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites. CENTCOM noted that the primary objective of the mission was to continue degrading "Iranian military capabilities". The military action also served as a direct retaliatory response to hostilities directed at American personnel the previous day, specifically designed to "punish" Iran following the fatalities of two American service members during an assault attributed to Tehran-backed forces in Jordan. Elaborating on this punitive objective, CENTCOM confirmed that the strikes were intended to "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night". Also read: Burnham faces key call on whether to let Donald Trump use UK military bases for Iran war The two US soldiers lost their lives on Friday while they "defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks". CENTCOM further noted that another service member was still missing in action, bringing the official tally to 16 US military personnel killed since hostilities escalated on February 28 following joint US-Israeli strikes. Providing an update on the wounded, the military command stated, "Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals. They have since been discharged. Other personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have returned to duty." Highlighting the scale of the American military posture amid this escalating regional friction, the command added, "More than 50,000 U.S. men and women in uniform are operating across the Middle East. They remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready." In response to these incursions, counter-claims emerged from the region. Iranian state media reported that the latest operations targeted fuel infrastructure at the Al-Azraq US base in Jordan. This follows assertions by the IRGC the previous day that it had struck American aircraft deployed in the country using a combination of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Washington had initiated this latest round of military actions earlier this month, accusing Tehran of threatening maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most vital energy conduit. In retaliation, Tehran has repeatedly targeted American bases across Gulf nations. This ongoing escalation marks a sharp deterioration in relations, occurring just weeks after the collapse of an interim diplomatic framework intended to de-escalate the conflict. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had previously signed a 14-point bilateral agreement on June 17 aimed at halting the hostilities. The framework mandated an immediate cessation of military actions, including theatres in Lebanon, and bound both capitals to negotiate a permanent settlement within a 60-day window. However, the diplomatic track disintegrated on July 8 when President Trump declared that the agreement was "over". Tehran subsequently voided the memorandum of understanding, alleging that Washington was "violating all its commitments". Also read: US-Iran war: Trump drops 20% toll plan on Hormuz, seeks Gulf investment deals instead Reacting to the developments, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, during the February 28 opening of hostilities, severely criticised the American administration. In a statement published on X, the supreme leader, who has remained out of public view since the outbreak of the war, asserted, "The repeated breaches of the agreement by the Great Satan [the US] regarding the MOU signed by the Presidents of Iran and the US have once again laid bare a fundamental truth. The signature of the US President is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility." He further warned that the ongoing campaign "once again demonstrated to everyone the worthlessness of the American president's signature". Khamenei cautioned Washington against broader escalation, stating, "Now that the American enemy is seeking to escalate the conflict, thereby incurring even heavier costs and further humiliation, it should know that the noble nation of Iran and the Resistance Front have unforgettable lessons in store for it." Reiterating this aggressive posture, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, senior military adviser to the supreme leader, warned via state media channels that Tehran is prepared to launch "full-scale offensive operations" should American strikes persist. Rezaei concluded by stating that "Iran will no longer limit itself to retaliatory, like-for-like responses", indicating a potential shift towards unrestricted regional warfare. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) An MQ-9 is a "large, remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicle designed primarily for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and air strikes," according to a description by the US Air Force. Track live updates of US-Iran war here The development comes amid a sharp escalation in regional hostilities, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) carrying out a series of military operations targeting Iranian assets. The strikes mark an "eighth consecutive night" of kinetic actions against Tehran-backed facilities in the region. According to an official statement released on X, the operation was executed late Saturday under direct authorisation from the White House. "US Central Command (CENTCOM) completed another round of strikes against Iran on July 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET, at the Commander in Chief's direction," the statement read. Authorised by US President Donald Trump, the military engagement was also "designed to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM stated. During the operational sweep, American forces engaged multiple strategic locations, focusing heavily on degradation operations. The strikes successfully hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites. CENTCOM noted that the primary objective of the mission was to continue degrading "Iranian military capabilities". The military action also served as a direct retaliatory response to hostilities directed at American personnel the previous day, specifically designed to "punish" Iran following the fatalities of two American service members during an assault attributed to Tehran-backed forces in Jordan. Elaborating on this punitive objective, CENTCOM confirmed that the strikes were intended to "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night". Also read: Burnham faces key call on whether to let Donald Trump use UK military bases for Iran war The two US soldiers lost their lives on Friday while they "defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks". CENTCOM further noted that another service member was still missing in action, bringing the official tally to 16 US military personnel killed since hostilities escalated on February 28 following joint US-Israeli strikes. Providing an update on the wounded, the military command stated, "Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals. They have since been discharged. Other personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have returned to duty." Highlighting the scale of the American military posture amid this escalating regional friction, the command added, "More than 50,000 U.S. men and women in uniform are operating across the Middle East. They remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready." In response to these incursions, counter-claims emerged from the region. Iranian state media reported that the latest operations targeted fuel infrastructure at the Al-Azraq US base in Jordan. This follows assertions by the IRGC the previous day that it had struck American aircraft deployed in the country using a combination of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Washington had initiated this latest round of military actions earlier this month, accusing Tehran of threatening maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most vital energy conduit. In retaliation, Tehran has repeatedly targeted American bases across Gulf nations. This ongoing escalation marks a sharp deterioration in relations, occurring just weeks after the collapse of an interim diplomatic framework intended to de-escalate the conflict. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had previously signed a 14-point bilateral agreement on June 17 aimed at halting the hostilities. The framework mandated an immediate cessation of military actions, including theatres in Lebanon, and bound both capitals to negotiate a permanent settlement within a 60-day window. However, the diplomatic track disintegrated on July 8 when President Trump declared that the agreement was "over". Tehran subsequently voided the memorandum of understanding, alleging that Washington was "violating all its commitments". Also read: US-Iran war: Trump drops 20% toll plan on Hormuz, seeks Gulf investment deals instead Reacting to the developments, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, during the February 28 opening of hostilities, severely criticised the American administration. In a statement published on X, the supreme leader, who has remained out of public view since the outbreak of the war, asserted, "The repeated breaches of the agreement by the Great Satan [the US] regarding the MOU signed by the Presidents of Iran and the US have once again laid bare a fundamental truth. The signature of the US President is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility." He further warned that the ongoing campaign "once again demonstrated to everyone the worthlessness of the American president's signature". Khamenei cautioned Washington against broader escalation, stating, "Now that the American enemy is seeking to escalate the conflict, thereby incurring even heavier costs and further humiliation, it should know that the noble nation of Iran and the Resistance Front have unforgettable lessons in store for it." Reiterating this aggressive posture, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, senior military adviser to the supreme leader, warned via state media channels that Tehran is prepared to launch "full-scale offensive operations" should American strikes persist. Rezaei concluded by stating that "Iran will no longer limit itself to retaliatory, like-for-like responses", indicating a potential shift towards unrestricted regional warfare. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Prime ExclusivesInvestment IdeasStock Report PlusePaperWealth Edition
Tehran: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone in Ahvaz, a city in the Khuzestan region that borders Iraq, state-run Press TV reported. An MQ-9 is a "large, remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicle designed primarily for int…
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A tanker identified as the Kaifan was struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Oman’s 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 vessel’s 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 Yemen’s 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 – at the southern end of the Red Sea, through which about 12% of the world’s trade usually passes – would be closed to the Saudis in response to the kingdom’s “unjust blockade on Yemenis for over 10 years”.
Saudi Arabia said it would take “all necessary measures to protect its vessels in accordance with international law”. 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 Iran’s president said the country had returned “full-scale war”, the Iranian interior minister travelled to Pakistan – a key mediator in the conflict – for talks. In key developments: The latest US strikes came hours after Donald Trump said Iran would pay “many times over” 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 military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed the attack as well as two other attacks on ships in the waterway on Monday.
The US military’s Central Command said its latest airstrikes were to “degrade” Iran’s 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 country’s only operational civilian nuclear power.
Iran’s 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.