US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining tool. Speaking to reporters before departing for the Philippines on Sunday, Rubio said it is clear that Iran seeks to control the strait and leverage it for negotiation. He emphasized that the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of global maritime navigation.

Rubio also called on world powers to share responsibility for securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He said that while the United States will fulfill its duties, other countries must also step forward by providing equipment or financial assistance to support this mission.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, come amid ongoing tensions involving Iran and maritime security in the region, highlighting Washington’s call for broader international cooperation in maintaining freedom of navigation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that only Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei holds the authority to make a final decision on whether Iran will continue its military confrontation with the United States or return to ceasefire talks. The statement came amid ongoing U.S. air raids on Iranian military and civilian sites for nine consecutive nights, with Iran responding by attacking American bases across the Middle East.

In an interview with Tehran Times, Araghchi confirmed that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council met on Saturday night to review the situation and decided to suspend the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a peace deal signed on June 17 under Pakistan’s mediation. The conflict, which began on February 28 over Iran’s nuclear program, had previously paused with an April 7 ceasefire before reigniting after Iran’s July 5 drone attack on UAE tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The renewed hostilities have led to U.S. President Donald Trump reimposing port blockades on Iran, while Tehran has yet to formally declare war, awaiting Khamenei’s decision.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that no oil or gas will be transported through the Strait of Hormuz if the United States continues what it calls aggression in the region. The IRGC declared that as long as US actions persist, the strait will not remain safe for navigation or energy shipments.

According to the IRGC, two oil tankers were disabled after explosions while attempting to pass through the southern route of the strait, which it described as unsafe. The group alleged that the US military had encouraged those vessels to use that route. However, the IRGC statement did not disclose the tankers’ names, flags, crew identities, or any information about casualties. Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the claims.

The IRGC also warned that US forces should be prepared for what it called punitive operations, signaling heightened tension in the strategic waterway.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched ballistic missile attacks on the Aqaba Airport in Jordan, targeting US military aircraft stationed there. According to a statement published by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and cited by Al Jazeera, the strikes were aimed at US C-17 transport and P-8 surveillance aircraft. The IRGC claimed that several aircraft were severely damaged and that 20 hangars used by US forces at Jordan’s Al-Azraq airbase were destroyed.

The IRGC also stated that it carried out drone strikes on US military installations at Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base, destroying an early warning radar system. The attacks come amid ongoing hostilities between Iran and the United States, following a series of nightly US strikes over the past ten days.

The report did not include independent verification of the IRGC’s claims or details on casualties, leaving the full extent of the damage uncertain.

US President Donald Trump stated that the United States is carrying out heavy attacks on Iran to honor American soldiers who were killed. Speaking to reporters in Washington after returning from the World Cup final, Trump said the strikes were conducted in tribute to three patriots. He expressed deep sorrow over the soldiers’ deaths and emphasized that their mission aimed to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces have conducted airstrikes on Iranian military sites for nine consecutive nights. The operations targeted Iran’s military command centers, air defense systems, coastal surveillance facilities, naval capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communication networks.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates that the strikes are part of an ongoing US military campaign against Iran following the killing of American personnel, with both sides engaged in escalating hostilities.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on global powers to share the responsibility of ensuring safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters before departing for a visit to the Philippines, Rubio emphasized the need for collective action to maintain maritime security in the region, according to an AFP report.

Rubio stated that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining tool amid regional conflicts. He urged other nations to take on greater responsibility in protecting maritime routes, either through providing equipment or financial support. The US, he said, will continue implementing measures to safeguard maritime traffic but expects other countries to contribute as well.

The remarks highlight Washington’s push for broader international involvement in securing one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, reflecting ongoing concerns about regional stability and freedom of navigation.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that Ukraine launched more than 400 drones toward the Moscow region overnight, most of which were intercepted by Russian air defense systems. In a post on the state-supported social media platform Max, Sobyanin stated that the attacks occurred between 8:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. local time, and 85 drones were destroyed before reaching the city. The report was carried by AFP.

According to the Russian state news agency TASS, six people, including three foreign nationals, were injured in explosions in the Moscow region. The injured were hospitalized in Domodedovo, an area south of Moscow that hosts one of the capital’s main international airports. However, it was not immediately confirmed whether the injuries were directly linked to the drone attacks.

The source noted that Ukraine has intensified drone and missile strikes inside Russia in recent months, describing them as retaliatory actions for more than four years of Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Iran carried out a drone attack on a US military installation at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, according to reports published on July 20, 2026. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the strike, saying it destroyed an American early-warning radar system. Separate attacks reportedly targeted an aircraft equipment warehouse and a hangar housing MQ-9 drones, causing several aircraft to catch fire.

In a related development, Iran also claimed to have shot down an MQ-9 drone in the Eslamabad-e Gharb area of Kermanshah province. According to Mehr News, the IRGC Aerospace Force engaged the drone using an advanced air defense system operating under the country’s integrated defense network.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as its source, did not provide details on casualties or the extent of damage beyond the destroyed radar and burning aircraft.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran will end its ongoing war with the United States only after securing a 'strategic military advantage.' In an interview with the state news agency IRNA, Araghchi emphasized that the key to crisis management lies in determining the right moment to stop fighting and begin negotiations. He explained that wars end either through decisive military victory or through talks, and that negotiations become appropriate only when reliable and strategic success has been achieved on the battlefield.

Araghchi added that no risks should be taken with the lives of citizens or the nation’s future, stressing that all decisions must be based on careful and comprehensive calculations. He noted that Iran’s leadership must constantly weigh whether continuing the war will bring more benefits or increase humanitarian and national losses. Despite some damage, he claimed that Iran has emerged as an influential power internationally and demonstrated the strength of its state system.

The interview was reported by Al Jazeera and published by IRNA on July 20, 2026.

A ferry carrying 116 passengers and crew sank off the coast of Guyana, leaving many missing and feared dead. Authorities confirmed that 67 people, including 15 children, were rescued alive. The vessel, named MV Barima, departed from the capital Georgetown around 3:15 p.m. local time on Saturday, heading toward Port Kaituma in the oil-rich Essequibo region near the Venezuelan border. The distress signal was received shortly after 11 p.m., prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving the Guyana Defense Force, private aircraft, fishing boats, and volunteers.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill stated that initial investigations found the ferry was operating within its approved capacity and that no mechanical faults or overloading were detected. He said the accident was primarily caused by tidal conditions. The MV Barima was authorized to carry 397 passengers and 284 tons of cargo but had only 268 tons at the time. It was equipped with 250 life jackets, two lifeboats, and six inflatable life rafts.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips announced that the search area had been expanded from 400 to 1,070 square kilometers, with additional aircraft, vessels, and local fishermen joining the search efforts.

A US soldier was killed and another injured on July 18 in northern Iraq when a downed Iranian drone exploded during an attempt to defuse it, according to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM) cited by Al Jazeera. The soldier’s identity has not been released. The incident occurred amid escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States following months of cross-border strikes and drone attacks.

Since the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel joint forces began on February 28, a total of 17 American soldiers have been killed. Just days earlier, two US soldiers died and one went missing in an Iranian attack in Jordan. CENTCOM reported that unidentified remains were recovered from the Jordan site and are being examined for identification.

The renewed hostilities follow the collapse of a temporary ceasefire and disputes over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route. The ongoing conflict has caused thousands of deaths and disrupted global energy supplies, heightening inflation risks worldwide.

Iran has claimed that its forces shot down a US MQ-9 drone in the Eslamabad-e Gharb area of Kermanshah province in western Iran. According to the state-linked Mehr News Agency, the drone was targeted and destroyed by the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) using an advanced air defense system operating under an integrated air defense network.

The report did not specify when the incident occurred or provide details about the drone’s mission. The United States has not yet commented on Iran’s claim, and no independent verification of the incident has been made available. The claim comes amid a period of heightened regional tension involving Iran and the United States.

It remains unclear whether the alleged shootdown will lead to further escalation or diplomatic exchanges between the two countries, as no official response has been issued from Washington at the time of reporting.

Two oil tankers exploded in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz late Sunday night, halting their voyages, according to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the incident occurred in the Persian Gulf, a key global energy route. The IRGC stated that the vessels were attempting to navigate the strait under pressure from the United States.

Following the explosions, the IRGC warned that the Strait of Hormuz is now completely unsafe for transporting oil, gas, or chemical fertilizers. The force added that as long as U.S. military operations continue in the region, the maritime route will remain insecure. The report did not mention casualties or identify the tankers involved.

The incident comes amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, with recent reports of American military actions in Iran and the destruction of a U.S. MQ-9 drone claimed by Tehran.

US forces carried out airstrikes in Iran for the ninth consecutive night, hitting a nuclear power plant under construction in the Darkhovin region. The US Central Command confirmed that the operation targeted Iran’s military command centers, air defense systems, coastal surveillance, naval assets, missile and drone launch sites, and communication networks. Tehran responded with attacks on US facilities in Kuwait and neighboring countries, warning of a ‘catastrophic response’ if strikes continue.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced the suspension of a memorandum of understanding signed with the US on June 17, accusing Washington of violating its terms. President Donald Trump told NewsNation that he was unconcerned by the suspension, reiterating that the US goal was to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the targeted nuclear plant was in an early construction phase and is investigating the incident.

Iran’s leadership called for national unity, while regional tensions spread to Kuwait and Jordan. Analysts told Al Jazeera that the US escalation could strengthen Iranian resolve, complicating Washington’s strategic objectives.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least 4,328 people have been killed and more than 12,000 injured since Israeli attacks began on March 2. The rising number of casualties has deepened concerns over the worsening humanitarian situation in the country. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, uncertainty remains over the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has arrived at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to a post from the president’s office on X, the visit marks the first trip to Washington by a Lebanese president since 2009. Aoun is also scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

The visit takes place amid U.S.-supported direct talks between Lebanon and Israel. Just days earlier, officials from both countries concluded another round of negotiations in Rome under American mediation, according to Al Jazeera.