Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has dismissed as false reports that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be allowed to inspect nuclear facilities damaged by recent US airstrikes. He stated that IAEA inspectors have no right to visit the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear centers, which were affected by the attacks. The remarks were reported by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.

Ghalibaf clarified that IAEA inspectors currently have access to only two sites: the Bushehr power plant and the Tehran reactor. He added that Iran’s parliament has already passed a law prohibiting IAEA access to the damaged facilities, and the country’s Supreme National Security Council has endorsed a similar resolution, making the restriction legally binding.

His comments came shortly after IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said that under a US-Iran memorandum of understanding, UN inspectors must be granted access to Iranian nuclear sites. Ghalibaf’s response has renewed tensions between Tehran and the IAEA over inspection rights.

Former US diplomat Gordon Gray described the recent indirect talks between American and Iranian representatives in Qatar as a positive step in the right direction. He said the meeting demonstrated both sides’ genuine interest in maintaining the ongoing ceasefire and reaching a final agreement. Gray made these remarks in an interview with Al Jazeera.

According to Gray, despite the encouraging tone of the discussions, several complex issues remain unresolved between Washington and Tehran. Each side has its own priorities and urgent interests. For the United States, the immediate goal is to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route for global energy and trade security. Iran, on the other hand, is focused on securing relief from economic sanctions that have severely weakened its economy due to prolonged conflict, international restrictions, and domestic mismanagement.

The talks in Qatar are viewed as a cautious but meaningful step toward stabilizing regional tensions, though significant challenges still lie ahead for both nations.

Somaliland’s cabinet has approved a bilateral strategic cooperation agreement with Israel, formalizing commitments announced during President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi’s recent visit to the country. The agreement, passed unanimously in a cabinet meeting following the June trip, marks a new phase in relations between the two sides.

According to the presidential office, the deal will open new avenues of partnership in security, investment, technology exchange, and economic development. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has long struggled for international recognition. Israel became the first country to officially recognize Somaliland last year.

Geopolitical analysts cited in the report suggest that Israel’s recognition and cooperation are driven by strategic interests in the Red Sea region, particularly around the Gulf of Aden, where Israel seeks to strengthen its military and geopolitical presence and counter Iranian and Houthi influence.

Heavy fighting between Myanmar’s government junta forces and the Arakan Army (AA) has intensified near Maungdaw Township in Rakhine State, sending loud explosions across the border into Bangladesh. The blasts, reportedly from powerful mortar shells, were heard on Monday night across several areas of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, including Shahparirdwip, Sabrang, Nazirpara, Jaliapara, Hnila, Jadimura, Dhumdumia, and Whaikhong. Residents described their homes shaking like an earthquake as the sounds echoed from across the Naf River.

Local residents and community leaders confirmed hearing multiple explosions around 9:15 p.m., causing panic among border communities. Acting chairman of Hnila Union Parishad Mohammad Ali said the repeated blasts from Myanmar had sparked renewed fear among locals. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials confirmed awareness of the situation, stating that troops remain deployed and alert along the border, assuring there is no reason for panic.

Authorities have not reported any casualties or cross-border damage, but the situation has heightened tension among residents living near the frontier.

Leaders and senior representatives from more than 30 countries are traveling to Tehran to attend the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S.-Israel attack on February 28. Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Georgia, and Cuba are among the nations sending high-level delegations. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev will attend as President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead his country’s delegation. Georgia’s president, Cuba’s higher education minister, and India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Pavitra Margariti are also expected to attend.

Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister Ali Akbar Porjamshidian, head of the funeral organizing committee, said representatives from over 30 countries and religious leaders from more than 90 nations have confirmed participation. Officials expect between 15 and 20 million people to join the multi-day ceremonies, which they describe as the largest funeral in Iran’s history.

Public viewing will take place at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla Prayer Complex, followed by a 10-kilometer procession on Monday. Burial ceremonies will continue in Qom, Iraq, and Mashhad through July 9.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that Tehran is prepared for war if the United States fails to honor the memorandum of understanding signed between the two nations. He stated that Washington’s repeated violations of the agreement could halt progress toward a final deal. The warning came as the date for the second round of peace talks remains undecided, despite earlier announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump that the meeting would take place in Qatar.

Ghalibaf accused the United States of breaching the terms of the 14-point memorandum, citing incidents in the Persian Gulf. He emphasized that Iran continues discussions to implement the 13th clause of the memorandum, which calls for a joint U.S.-Iran team to monitor compliance. Following the signing of the memorandum on June 17, the U.S. lifted sanctions on Iranian oil exports, allowing Iran to export over 40 million barrels of crude oil. Ghalibaf also reaffirmed Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and its right to regulate passage.

Despite a temporary ceasefire, both nations have exchanged accusations and limited attacks. Analysts cited in the report suggest that neither side is likely to engage in full-scale war soon.

A new report has alleged that Israel has been conducting what it calls a 'reproductive genocide' against Palestinians for decades. The report, published by the Palestinian Feminist Collective, claims that Israel’s destruction of medical facilities, killing of women and children, and creation of unlivable conditions have led to rising infertility among Palestinians. It states that these actions intensified after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, with the aim of making normal life and future generations impossible for Palestinians.

A separate report from the United Nations’ top investigative body on Israel and Palestine also found that Israeli forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children as part of their Gaza operations. The UN report documented sniper and drone attacks, torture in detention, reproductive-related violence, and the destruction of schools and hospitals.

According to UN data, more than 21,000 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, with about 5,160 more trapped under rubble. By October 2024, at least 15,000 children had lost their mothers.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the ongoing discussions in Qatar regarding Iran’s nuclear disarmament are progressing well. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said the meetings in Doha, attended by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, had gone very well. He dismissed fears that a full-scale war could resume, saying significant progress had been made.

Trump added that the U.S. military had delivered a strong strike against Iran the previous week but emphasized that diplomatic processes were now proving effective. He described the current state of U.S.-Iran relations as moving forward positively.

The remarks highlight a shift from military confrontation to diplomatic engagement, with the U.S. leadership expressing optimism about the direction of the talks in Qatar.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, stated that around one million people have been displaced in the country due to Israeli aggression. Speaking at a seminar in Beirut on Tuesday, he said that 1.4 million people in Lebanon currently require humanitarian assistance.

Riza emphasized that while aid is essential, relief supplies alone cannot address the scale of the crisis. He described the emergency as not only humanitarian but also deeply connected to Lebanon’s social and economic conditions, noting that the crisis is closely linked to the labor market.

Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Israeli attacks have continued in southern Lebanon. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, at least 4,278 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since March 2.

A 23-year-old woman named Andrea Canonico was rescued alive after being trapped for nearly 48 hours under the rubble of a collapsed building in Los Corales, La Guaira, following two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, have killed around 2,000 people so far, with fears that the toll could rise further. Andrea said she never lost hope despite being buried about six meters deep and used her mobile phone for light and timekeeping.

Rescue worker Moises Faramaya, a 26-year-old former miner known as “The Mole,” has been tirelessly searching for survivors in the same area, using only a pickaxe and shovel. He has so far rescued 16 people alive and recovered 22 bodies. Authorities have declared the area a disaster zone. Heavy rain on Tuesday temporarily halted rescue efforts, dampening morale among workers.

The critical 72-hour window for finding survivors ended Saturday evening, and by Tuesday, hopes of finding more people alive had significantly diminished.

Iran and Oman are preparing to jointly impose a toll on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report citing an Iranian official and four diplomats. The move comes despite open objections from the United States. The New York Times reported the plan on Tuesday, noting that the two countries intend to charge a fee for passage through the strategic waterway.

Earlier this month, the United States and Iran signed a 14-point plan allowing commercial ships to transit the strait safely without paying any fees. However, that agreement, like other parts of the deal, is valid only for a 60-day negotiation period. As part of the arrangement, Iran and Oman were tasked with developing a joint plan for the strait’s management.

If the proposed toll is implemented as part of a post-war regional business model, it would end the centuries-old tradition of free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global maritime route.

Ten of the eleven Thai commercial ships that had been stranded in the Hormuz Strait since late February have now safely crossed the waterway, according to a statement from Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The vessels, either Thai-flagged or chartered by Thai operators, had been unable to leave the area following the outbreak of military conflict in the region on February 28.

The ministry confirmed that only one Thai ship remains in the high-risk zone. It stated that this remaining vessel is expected to depart the strait as soon as its cargo loading is completed. The release of the ships marks a significant relief for Thailand’s maritime trade operations, which had been disrupted for several months due to the regional instability.

The ministry’s statement did not specify further details about the conflict or the measures taken to secure the ships’ passage, but it emphasized the government’s continued monitoring of the situation to ensure the safety of Thai vessels operating in the area.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he called on Iran to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Modi said the discussion also covered recent developments in the Middle East.

In a statement, Modi welcomed progress in talks with the United States and expressed hope that continued diplomatic efforts would bring lasting peace to the region. He reiterated the importance of maintaining free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz for India and the wider world.

Experts cited in the report noted that India imports about 40 percent of its oil and nearly half of its gas through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the strategic importance of the waterway for the country’s energy security.

A three-year-old child was rescued alive from the rubble six days after a devastating earthquake struck Venezuela, according to a Jordanian rescue team. Video footage showed rescuers celebrating as they pulled the child, identified as Clieber Moran, from debris in La Guaira state. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez described the rescue as a moment of hope. The child received initial medical treatment and was later transferred to a hospital in Caracas, where his condition is reported stable.

The United Nations has warned that thousands in Venezuela urgently need food and shelter following the twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude last week. The disaster has killed 1,943 people, injured more than 10,000, and left thousands missing. NASA’s preliminary satellite data indicated that about 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed.

La Guaira remains one of the hardest-hit areas, where locals are conducting their own rescue efforts amid severe shortages and collapsed infrastructure, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again threatened to launch attacks on Iran, declaring that Tehran must never possess nuclear weapons. He made the remarks during an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, according to a report published on July 1, 2026.

Netanyahu’s warning came shortly after a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran took effect on June 18, mediated by Pakistan. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump electronically signed the agreement, which outlines steps to end hostilities and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue. The memorandum includes provisions for a ceasefire, lifting of sanctions, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and establishing a broader regional security framework.

Israel has consistently opposed any agreements with Tehran and has now reiterated its readiness to strike Iran again, underscoring its rejection of the new diplomatic initiative.