Iran has labeled the NATO summit held this week in Ankara, Turkey, as entirely politically motivated. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Tehran strongly criticized the summit’s focus on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program, arguing that these topics were used for political purposes. The Iranian embassy in Turkey stated that the country’s nuclear activities are completely peaceful and that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons.

The embassy further asserted that maintaining the security and stability of the Strait of Hormuz is primarily Iran’s responsibility, while accusing other nations of provoking instability through destructive actions. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also sharply criticized NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, accusing him of supporting what he called an “illegal and imposed war.”

Baghaei added that NATO’s support for U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran reflects a submissive mentality and that flattery cannot conceal the truth or contempt. The statements underscore Iran’s growing frustration with NATO’s stance on regional security and its nuclear policy.

Military analysts say the United States is struggling to counter Iran’s asymmetric warfare tactics in the Persian Gulf, particularly the threat of naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Former US Marine Corps officer Dan Grazier told Al Jazeera that Iran could effectively disrupt global trade with minimal action, as even a few mines could turn clearance operations into a massive undertaking.

Grazier explained that the high value of ships passing through the region means even minor incidents could have a major impact on world commerce. He said the situation highlights the complexity of asymmetric warfare and presents a dilemma for US policymakers, who are unsure how to withdraw without appearing weak. According to Grazier, Iran holds a strategic advantage because it does not need to project power far from its own shores.

He urged Washington to seek a swift end to the conflict, acknowledging that the United States has yet to find a solution. Grazier added that while the current situation is difficult, valuable lessons could be learned once the conflict ends.

At least six people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza’s civil defense department. The attacks occurred on Thursday, including a drone strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza that killed two people and injured several others. Four more deaths were reported in other parts of the enclave, including one person killed when a car was targeted in a crowded area of Gaza City.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported that the attacked street in Gaza City is among the busiest in the area, filled with shops, supermarkets, and displaced Palestinians seeking shelter. Earlier on Thursday, Gaza’s health ministry said at least eight people had been killed and 17 injured in the past 24 hours, though it provided no further details on the circumstances.

The report noted that despite a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on October 10, 2025, Israeli forces have continued operations in Gaza. Al Jazeera said the Israeli military has violated the truce more than 3,000 times since it came into effect.

The leader of Bangladesh’s opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami chief expressed deep sorrow over a deadly fire at the Huiteng shoe factory in Jinjiang city, Fujian province, China. The incident occurred on July 9, 2026, killing at least 28 workers and injuring or trapping many others. In a condolence message issued on Thursday, he described the tragedy as extremely painful and extended sympathy to the bereaved families.

He noted that the victims were working people who supported their families and that their sudden deaths had left their relatives in severe distress. The Jamaat chief prayed for proper respect for the deceased and for the full recovery of those injured or burned in the fire. He also expressed hope that the Chinese authorities would rescue those still trapped inside the factory and take effective measures for their rehabilitation.

He further wished that the Chinese government and people would soon overcome the extensive losses caused by the disaster.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on Thursday evening, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry. During the call, Araghchi condemned recent statements from the United States, describing them as clear signs of treaty violations and a continuation of Washington’s war-oriented policy.

He further labeled US attacks in various parts of Iran as a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and a breach of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Araghchi warned against any reckless military actions by US forces and emphasized that Iran is fully prepared to defend itself if such attacks continue.

The report noted that Pakistan’s army chief has been acting as a mediator between Iran and the United States amid rising tensions, though no further details of the discussion were disclosed.

An Israeli-based outlet, i24 News, reported that a planned attack on Iran by Kurdish armed groups, allegedly supported by the United States and Israel, was canceled at the last moment due to diplomatic pressure from Turkey. The report, published Wednesday, claimed that for several months US intelligence agencies had overseen preparations involving Kurdish fighters, including meetings, weapons supply, and military training. Weapons were reportedly delivered a week before the scheduled assault.

According to i24 News, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s intervention led Washington to veto the plan, preventing the attack. The report cited Israeli sources saying that while Mossad’s role was not detailed, it was not fully denied. It also alleged that information about the plan reached Turkey through associates of US Vice President JD Vance, prompting Ankara to pressure Washington to stop the operation. None of the involved parties have officially commented.

Other outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, and Reuters, had previously reported on related Kurdish operations and intelligence activities along the Iran-Iraq border, describing them as part of a broader regime-change strategy.

Millions of mourners filled the streets of Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on Thursday to bid a final farewell to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution. The funeral procession and final prayers took place before his burial at the Imam Reza shrine. The bodies of Khamenei and his family members, killed in a February 28 attack by the United States and Israel, arrived at Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport earlier in the day. Due to the massive turnout, the funeral schedule was delayed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.

Before the procession began, all roads leading to the shrine were packed with mourners carrying red flags symbolizing vengeance for the martyrs’ blood. The crowd demanded justice for the slain leader. Officials said the funeral convoy had not yet reached the main procession area due to the overwhelming number of participants.

The Mashhad ceremony followed large-scale farewell events in Tehran, Qom, and Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala, where millions also paid their respects before the final burial in Mashhad.

The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that at least 73,118 Palestinians have been killed and 173,615 injured since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023. The figures were confirmed in the ministry’s latest update, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian toll of the conflict.

According to the report, a U.S.-mediated ceasefire was announced in October 2025, but Israeli operations across the besieged enclave have not ceased. Since the ceasefire declaration, an additional 1,092 Palestinians have been killed and 3,507 wounded in continued attacks. The report cited Al Jazeera as its source.

Despite repeated international appeals for a lasting ceasefire, Israeli aggression in Gaza has persisted, causing the death toll to climb steadily.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for launching ten ballistic missiles at the Azraq military base in Jordan. According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the IRGC stated that the main target of the attack was a US command and control center located within the base. The incident reportedly took place amid heightened regional tensions.

In a statement, the IRGC warned that similar attacks would continue if US forces in the Middle East persist with their operations. The group declared that other American bases in the region would not remain safe from future strikes. Jordanian authorities, however, reported that eight missiles launched from Iran were intercepted midair, and no casualties or damage were reported from the incident.

The exchange of claims underscores ongoing friction between Iran and the United States over military presence and actions in the Middle East, with Jordan caught in the middle of escalating hostilities.

A major fire reportedly broke out at an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force facility in Iran’s Bushehr province following recent US airstrikes. The claim emerged from social media videos and open-source intelligence, though the authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified. Iranian authorities have not released any official information on possible damage or casualties.

Earlier, the US Central Command announced that it had carried out strikes on more than 80 targets across Iran, saying the operation aimed to weaken Iran’s military capabilities and counter threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks were described as a response to recent Iranian actions against maritime traffic in the region.

Iranian state-linked media confirmed reports of explosions in Bushehr and nearby areas but did not specify which facilities were hit or provide casualty figures. Speculation has arisen that missile depots, drone infrastructure, or command sites may have been affected, though neither Washington nor Tehran has released detailed assessments.

France is considering Syria as an alternative route for transporting oil from the Gulf region, according to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. In an interview with French television network TF1 on July 9, 2026, Barrot said that following recent retaliatory attacks between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring reliable global energy supply requires developing diversified energy corridors and backup routes.

Barrot emphasized that France has been working to prepare alternative routes to avoid dependence on any single corridor that could be blocked or disrupted. His remarks come shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Syria, where he discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara’s government.

The consideration of Syria as a potential energy route reflects France’s broader strategy to secure energy supply chains amid rising geopolitical instability in the Gulf region.

At least 28 people were killed in a massive fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang city, Fujian province, southeastern China. The blaze broke out around noon local time on Thursday at the Huiteng Footwear factory, according to the state news agency Xinhua. About 500 rescue workers were deployed to the site, and footage released by Xinhua showed thick black smoke and flames rising from the building, with several people trapped on the roof.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the fire caused a significant number of casualties, and authorities fear the death toll could rise further. Jinjiang is known as China’s “shoe capital” and is one of the country’s largest footwear manufacturing hubs.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, and rescue operations are continuing as officials warn that the number of victims may increase.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed that American forces carried out strikes on more than 170 Iranian military targets near Iran’s coastal areas close to the Strait of Hormuz over the past two days. According to a report by The New York Times citing CENTCOM, the targets included Iran’s air defense systems, drone and missile storage facilities, military speedboats, and logistical infrastructure. The report was also referenced by Al Jazeera.

CENTCOM stated that the purpose of these operations was to weaken Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The New York Times further reported that the number of strikes conducted in the last two days was nearly 14 times higher than those carried out during the escalation between the United States and Iran in June.

The report did not mention any Iranian response or independent verification of the claimed strikes.

At least 6,000 sailors have been stranded in the strategically vital Hormuz Strait amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. The information was confirmed by Arsenio Dominguez, head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in an interview with NBC News. He warned that reckless attacks in the area have once again placed innocent sailors’ lives at extreme risk, emphasizing that no seafarer should have to risk their life merely to fulfill professional duties.

Dominguez added that behind these numbers are ordinary sailors and their families, who are paying a heavy humanitarian price for the ongoing conflict. The situation has raised serious concerns about the safety of commercial vessels operating in the region.

According to the report, the conflict’s impact is directly affecting thousands of workers involved in global maritime trade, as the security of shipping routes through the Hormuz Strait remains uncertain.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has strongly condemned Iran’s recent attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, expressing full solidarity with the two Gulf nations. In a statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 9, 2026, the UAE described the assaults as hostile acts that clearly violate the sovereignty of both Bahrain and Kuwait and threaten their security and stability.

According to the statement cited by Al Jazeera, the UAE reaffirmed its commitment to stand by Gulf countries in protecting their sovereignty and security. The condemnation underscores the UAE’s position against actions that destabilize the Gulf region and its emphasis on collective regional security.

The statement reflects growing concern among Gulf states over regional tensions and reiterates the UAE’s call for respect of national sovereignty and stability within the Gulf Cooperation Council area.