US-Iran war live: Iran launches fresh wave of strikes on Gulf countries; Latest updates

Trump: US to reinstate “Iranian blockade,” collect 20% shipping fee

President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz is open and will stay open, with or without Iran, and announced the reinstatement of what he called the “Iranian Blockade,” which he said targets only Iranian ships and customers while leaving free and open passage for all other countries.

He said the US will now be known as the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait” and, in return, will collect a 20 per cent fee on all cargo shipped through the strait to cover the cost of providing security in the region.

He said the process would begin immediately.

UAE strongly condemns renewed Iranian attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan

The UAE strongly condemned the renewed Iranian attacks with missiles and drones targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that these hostile attacks represent a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the brotherly nations and a threat to their security and stability.

The Ministry reaffirmed the UAE’s full solidarity with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability.

Iran says US, not Tehran, violated Hormuz agreement first

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said it was the United States, not Iran, that first violated the terms of last month’s Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries.

In his weekly briefing, he said the agreement has clearly entered a crisis stage, but insisted Iran had never been the one to break its commitments, having negotiated in good faith and signed the Islamabad memorandum with the interests of the Iranian people in mind.

He said the US failed to honor its promises, noting Washington didn’t even wait out the one-month period set out in Paragraph 5 of the MoU regarding Iran’s obligations in the Strait of Hormuz before reneging within days. He added that Iran remains committed to the deal as long as the other side upholds its obligations, and said no one can accuse Iran of breaking its word.

Baqaei also dismissed US President Trump’s claims about talks between Iran and Oman, saying the Muscat discussions covered only the Strait of Hormuz issue under Paragraph 5 of the MoU, and rejected as false Trump’s assertion that Iran had agreed to everything, including the nuclear issue, before attacking ships hours later.

He said Iran had been working with Oman on a mechanism for the safe passage of ships through the strait, but that this effort was undermined by overt and covert US pressure on Oman.

He also referenced the recent funeral of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, saying it drew a global outpouring of grief, including in Iraq’s holy cities, and said attempts to suppress public sentiment only strengthened it.

Responding to a question on alleged US and Israeli crimes, Baqaei said Iran would pursue all international legal avenues to seek justice for those killed during the recent conflict, saying the ministry would use every legal tool to document the crimes and hold those responsible accountable.

Iran’s foreign ministry condemns US strikes as “gross violation” of UN Charter

Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned US attacks on Iran over the past 24 hours, calling them brutal and a gross violation of the UN Charter, particularly Article 2(4), and warning they pose a severe threat to international peace and security.

It said that just 25 days after a war-termination agreement, the US has violated nearly all its provisions by striking Iran’s transport infrastructure, fishing boats, cargo barges, and weather facilities, which it described as heinous war crimes.

The ministry also accused the US of disrupting global shipping by interfering in security arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, and said Washington’s use of territory and facilities belonging to southern Persian Gulf nations for the offensive has effectively drawn those countries into what it called an illegal, criminal war against Iran.

Bahrain says it intercepted new Iranian attacks on Monday

Bahrain’s Defence Force said Iran is continuing a systematic pattern of hostility through missile and drone attacks targeting civilians in the kingdom.

It said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian strikes on Monday morning, July 13, and stressed that all its forces remain at the highest level of readiness to defend the country.

The Defence Force urged the public to stay cautious and avoid approaching any strange or suspicious debris from the attack, reporting it immediately, and said Royal Field Engineering Unit personnel are ready to safely handle such material to ensure public safety.

It reiterated that deliberately targeting civilians and private property with missiles and drones is a clear violation of international humanitarian law, and voiced pride in its forces’ readiness and vigilance in carrying out their national duty.

UAE holds coordination meeting on federal readiness, security planning

The Standing Committee for Operations Affairs and the Federal Readiness and Preparedness Assessment Team held a joint coordination meeting at the Dubai Police Academy, chaired by Brigadier Dr. Salem Al Habsi, Deputy Director General of Federal Central Operations, bringing together committee members, operations and crisis managers, and officers.

Discussions covered security plans, business continuity plans, and the federal readiness and preparedness assessment system, along with mechanisms for security exercises and operational scenarios, and the use of modern technologies, smart systems and AI to boost readiness, improve risk forecasting and data analysis, and support timely decision-making.

The meeting also stressed aligning these efforts with the government’s digital transformation and innovation agenda, strengthening coordination among partners, and raising preparedness for emergencies and crises.

It forms part of the Ministry of Interior’s ongoing work to strengthen the security system, support rapid response capabilities, and safeguard the community in line with approved standards and international best practices.

CENTCOM completes new strikes on Iran, deploys sea drones for first time

US Central Command said it completed a fresh wave of offensive strikes on Iran on July 12, hitting dozens of targets across multiple locations with precision munitions to curb Iran’s ability to keep attacking shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

It said forces struck Iranian air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats, using fighter aircraft, naval vessels, one-way attack drones, and – for the first time – one-way attack sea drones.

CENTCOM stressed that the Strait of Hormuz is a vital corridor for global trade that Iran does not control, and said US forces remain postured to keep the strait open to commercial shipping despite what it called Iran’s continued unwarranted aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations.

Jordan army says it shot down four Iranian missiles

Jordan’s Armed Forces said its air defense systems intercepted and shot down four missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory at dawn, with no casualties or material damage reported.

A military source said Royal Engineering Corps teams cleared shrapnel that fell in several locations following approved procedures, and secured the sites to protect citizens and property.

The source stressed that any attempt to breach the Kingdom’s sovereignty or airspace will be met firmly under the approved rules of engagement, and that the armed forces will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to defend the country’s security and stability.

Kuwait says air defences intercepted hostile objects

Kuwait’s General Staff said its air defence systems engaged hostile objects that entered the country’s airspace on Monday morning.

It said the blasts heard in parts of the country were caused by mid-air interceptions, and urged the public to follow safety instructions issued by the relevant authorities.

IRGC says it struck US missile base in Kuwait in fourth retaliation phase

Iran’s IRGC Ground Forces said that in a fourth phase of retaliatory operations, they targeted a US surface-to-surface missile base in Kuwait, claiming to have set fire to and completely destroyed two HIMARS missile launchers along with missile-packed warehouses.

CENTCOM launches new strikes on Iran

US Central Command said its forces began additional strikes on Iran at 5 p.m. ET, aimed at continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz freely.

It said the Commander in Chief ordered the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable.