US President Donald Trump said the United States could launch new strikes on Iran on Wednesday night, following Tuesday’s attack that he claimed had a “massive impact.” Speaking to reporters in Ankara before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a NATO summit, Trump warned that the US would deliver a “hard hit” against Iran. He said the latest strike destroyed Tehran’s radar system, though he provided no evidence for the claim.

Trump added that the US might target Iran’s power plants and desalination facilities if necessary, saying the goal was to make Iran nuclear-free. He expressed frustration with Iran’s negotiation team, accusing them of lying about closed-door discussions, and suggested that Washington could achieve its objectives without a formal deal. He also hinted at reimposing sanctions solely on Iran.

In response, Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, blamed the US for reigniting conflict in the Gulf region. He warned that Iran’s “finger is on the trigger” and that any act of aggression would receive an immediate response.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has reported that around 6,000 sailors are stranded aboard hundreds of ships in the Gulf amid rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement cited by Al Jazeera, Dominguez condemned recent attacks on several vessels crossing the strait over the past two days, warning that such incidents have placed innocent seafarers’ lives at severe risk.

He stressed that no sailor should face danger merely for performing their duties and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and work to de-escalate the situation. Dominguez called on flag states, shipowners, and operators to avoid transiting the strait if crew safety cannot be guaranteed.

According to the IMO chief, the recent attacks have intensified fear, uncertainty, and psychological stress among the roughly 6,000 sailors unable to leave the Gulf. He reaffirmed that ensuring the safety of seafarers must remain the top priority.

Four Indian citizens who were previously pushed into Bangladesh by India's Border Security Force (BSF) have returned to India through the Sonamasjid immigration point in Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj upazila. The return took place on Wednesday afternoon after completing necessary immigration formalities. The four individuals—Danis Sheikh, Sweety Bibi, Kurban Sheikh, and Imam Dewan—are residents of Dhritara village in Birbhum district, West Bengal, according to Sonamasjid Immigration Police in-charge Jamirul Islam.

The group alleged that in June 2025, BSF forcibly pushed six Indian nationals, including two children, into Bangladesh through the Kurigram border. They were later detained by police in Chapainawabganj and sent to jail before being released on bail after about three months. Earlier, two other members of the same family, Sonali Bibi and her child, had been taken back by India, but the remaining four were not accepted at that time.

Following legal proceedings in India’s High Court and Supreme Court, the six were confirmed as Indian citizens, prompting India to issue travel passes. The four expressed gratitude to the people and authorities of Bangladesh for their support before returning home.

Iran has stated that it turned back an Indian oil tanker attempting to use a maritime corridor along Oman’s coast through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, the vessel was redirected after trying to pass through the Oman corridor. The report cited Al Jazeera as the source of the information.

On June 24, Oman and the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced the opening of a temporary sea route near Oman’s coast to facilitate the removal of stranded ships in the Gulf. Iran claimed that the United States was overseeing the management of this corridor. Fars reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been issuing radio warnings to ships attempting to use the Oman corridor, instructing them to follow Iran-designated routes instead.

The report added that, according to shipping data, all vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday morning used Iran-approved corridors. However, there has been no independent confirmation of Iran’s claims from India, Oman, or international authorities.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity reported that several of the country’s power lines were damaged by splinters from an Iranian attack, rendering them temporarily inoperative. The ministry stated that despite the damage, electricity supply across the country remained unaffected. Emergency engineering teams have already begun repair work on the affected lines.

According to Kuwait’s army, two ballistic missiles and thirteen drones were detected in the country’s airspace early Thursday morning. All were successfully intercepted before causing further harm. Authorities confirmed that there were no casualties or significant damage resulting from the incident.

The ministry and military statements indicate that the situation is under control, with restoration efforts underway to ensure full operational stability of the power infrastructure.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused the United States of violating rules as the host of the Football World Cup, alleging that Washington is intimidating rivals, creating obstacles, and engaging in deceit. He stated that such behavior reflects the broader foreign policy of the United States. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera.

In a post on social media platform X, Pezeshkian said the conduct of the US government mirrors its so-called ‘MAGA playbook’. He added that Iran rejects such games and stands firmly for its rights. The comments come amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The report noted that US forces recently struck more than 80 targets inside Iran and reimposed sanctions on the country’s oil sector, further straining bilateral relations.

Iran issued a strong warning following U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration that an agreement with Tehran had ended. The Iranian Armed Forces’ central command unit, Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters, stated that any party assisting U.S. military aggression against Iran’s sovereignty or territory would be considered a legitimate target. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera and published through Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

According to the Tasnim report, the command emphasized that any source of support for U.S. aggression—whether direct or indirect—would be treated as a valid target by Iran’s armed forces. It further suggested that individuals, institutions, or infrastructure aiding U.S. military operations could face necessary countermeasures.

The warning reflects heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington following Trump’s announcement, signaling Iran’s readiness to respond to any perceived threat or collaboration against its sovereignty.

US President Donald Trump announced that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to maintain a ceasefire has collapsed. Speaking to reporters at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, he said continuing talks with Iran would be a waste of time. The agreement, brokered by Pakistan, aimed to achieve a final deal within 60 days, but indirect negotiations in Qatar failed to make progress. Following this, US forces launched new attacks on Iran on Tuesday.

Trump stated that the memorandum was effectively over and criticized Iran’s leadership as violent and untrustworthy. He claimed that if Iran possessed nuclear weapons, it would use them. The US military carried out extensive air and missile strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Tehran of attacking commercial ships in the vital trade route.

In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on 85 US military installations located in Bahrain and Kuwait, signaling a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two nations.

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, announced that more than 2.3 million people participated in a mourning procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the holy city of Najaf. The statement, broadcast on Iran’s state media IRIB on Wednesday, said people from across Iraq joined the event, with the number of mourners continuing to rise.

As part of several days of farewell ceremonies, Khamenei’s body was taken to Najaf. Similar commemorations were also organized in Qom, Karbala, and his hometown of Mashhad. The funeral prayer was first held at the shrine of Hazrat Ali (RA), followed by the official mourning procession that began at 6 a.m. local time in Najaf.

The procession moved from the shrine through Kufa Bridge and Thawrat al-Ashreen Square toward Al-Sadrin Square before Khamenei’s body was taken to Karbala, marking a major moment in the multi-day mourning events.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has defended recent United States airstrikes on Iran, calling them necessary. Speaking to reporters in Ankara ahead of a NATO summit, Rutte said that if Iran violated the ceasefire, a strong US response was essential. His remarks came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that at least 80 strikes had been carried out on specific Iranian targets.

According to CENTCOM, the attacks targeted Iran’s air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar installations, and anti-ship missile capabilities. The US military said these actions were in retaliation for Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The exchange underscores escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, with NATO leadership publicly backing the US position just before a key alliance meeting in Turkey.

A cargo aircraft from the United Arab Emirates bound for Pakistan has gone missing with five people on board. The plane, a Boeing 737-400 operated by K-2 Airways, lost contact on Tuesday night about 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. No wreckage or trace of the five crew members has been found so far.

According to Pakistan’s airport authorities, communication with the aircraft was lost shortly after takeoff. Flight tracking data showed the plane cruising normally at 35,000 feet and 790 kilometers per hour before making a sudden U-turn and descending rapidly. Within five minutes, it dropped nearly 34,000 feet and was last detected at 1,100 feet and 211 kilometers per hour before disappearing from radar over the Arabian Sea.

Pakistan’s Navy and Air Force have intensified search operations, deploying additional warships and surveillance aircraft. Commercial vessels of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation are also assisting in the search effort.

In June 2026, around 2,800 migrants arrived in Italy by sea, bringing the total since the start of the year to 14,388. Among them, Bangladeshi nationals formed the largest group, followed by migrants from Somalia and other African countries. From Asia, Pakistanis ranked second after Bangladeshis. According to Italy’s Interior Ministry, the data was recorded up to the morning of July 7 and may undergo minor revisions after verification.

The number of sea arrivals in 2026 has dropped significantly compared with the same periods in 2025 and 2024. Between January 1 and July 7, 2026, Italy received 14,623 migrants, about 53 percent fewer than in 2025 and 45 percent fewer than in 2024. Monthly figures also show lower arrivals each month from January to June 2026 compared with the previous two years.

Bangladeshis accounted for 4,314 arrivals, roughly one-third of the total. Somalia followed with 1,702, then Sudan, Pakistan, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Tunisia, Mali, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Iran, South Sudan, and Guinea. Another 1,163 migrants from various countries remain under identification.

Iran carried out missile and drone attacks on 85 United States military installations located in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC said its naval and air forces jointly executed the strikes, targeting the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain and the Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait. The operation was described as Iran’s first retaliatory response against the United States.

The IRGC accused the US of violating a ceasefire and the Islamabad Agreement by launching airstrikes on Iran’s coastal bases and civilian facilities in Hormozgan and Mahshahr. It further claimed that the US attacks were intended to undermine the significance of the funeral ceremony of Iran’s former supreme leader.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not provide details on casualties or damage, and there was no immediate comment from US authorities regarding the incident.

Iran has warned the United States of a decisive response to what it called military aggression. The country’s top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated that any attack on southern Iran would be met with stronger retaliation than ever before. In a statement, the command described the recent assault as an open act of aggression and declared that Tehran would not tolerate US interference in the management of the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement emphasized that the only safe route for ship navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is the one established by Iran. The warning followed US airstrikes on several Iranian targets, which Washington said were carried out in response to attacks on three commercial vessels in the strategic waterway. The US Central Command confirmed the strikes in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The exchange of warnings underscores rising tensions between Tehran and Washington over control and security in one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s body was brought to Najaf, Iraq, where millions of mourners gathered for a funeral procession on Tuesday night. The procession began at the Al-Kufa Bridge and moved toward the shrine of Imam Ali, one of the holiest sites for Shia Muslims. Video footage showed Najaf transformed into a sea of people as Khamenei’s coffin and family members arrived by plane.

Following several days of memorial events in Iran, the funeral ceremonies were transferred to Iraq. Officials confirmed that Khamenei’s body will also be taken to Karbala, where additional processions are planned. Experienced Iraqi officials and volunteers have been preparing for the upcoming ceremonies in Karbala.

Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, was killed on February 28 in a U.S.-Israeli attack along with members of his family and senior officials, according to the report.