Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, has claimed that more than 200 US troops were killed during a 15-day conflict with the United States. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebi made the assertion in an interview with Iran’s Tasnim news agency published on July 26, 2026.

Mohebi said the actual number of US military casualties and losses from Iran’s retaliatory strikes was far higher than the figures released by Washington. The IRGC said its Operation Victory-2 involved attacks on eight US military bases. It said missiles struck 20 facilities and aircraft hangars at one of those bases.

According to the IRGC, the attacks destroyed 11 US warplanes and helicopters, 17 intelligence and operational drones, one F-15 fighter jet, one P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, one C-17 transport aircraft, and eight aerial refuelling aircraft. The Pentagon had previously said 18 US troops were killed in the conflict, while several international media outlets later reported a revised death toll of 14. The United States released photographs and names of some of those killed.

Iran on Saturday blamed Ukraine for an attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea that killed one sailor and injured another. Citing Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the state news agency IRNA said an explosion struck the ship in the morning. Tehran also warned that it would respond to the incident.

The accusation followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement that Ukraine’s armed forces had achieved a “very powerful success” in long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea. He said the targets included vessels used to transport Iran-linked military cargo and a warship. Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency said on Telegram that drones had struck cargo ships under international sanctions that were used to transport military supplies between Iran and Russia.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the Islamic Republic had never intervened in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. State television reported that Iran summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran to protest what it called hostile and criminal actions. The ministry also said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sought a strong response from the European Union and the UN Security Council in a call with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

Iranian army spokesman General Abul Fazl Shekarchi said the United States has failed to weaken Tehran and has not achieved its objectives in the Strait of Hormuz. In remarks reported on July 26, 2026, he described the current situation as chaotic and undesirable for Washington, and said the United States was seeking a “new strategy.”

Shekarchi also said the possibility of Washington withdrawing from the war depended on permission from “Zionists.” The report presented the remarks as the Iranian military spokesman’s position and did not include a US response to his claims or an independent assessment of them.

Separately, Axios, citing two sources familiar with the matter, reported that President Donald Trump on Friday instructed the US military not to launch new attacks, pausing strikes that had continued in Iran for nearly two weeks. After authorizing air strikes for 13 days, Trump did not approve plans for new attacks on Friday. It remains unclear whether the pause is temporary or signals a broader policy shift.

Iranian and Omani deputy foreign ministers held talks in Tehran on Friday and Saturday on managing the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the discussions were constructive and had made progress, with safe navigation through the waterway among the issues addressed.

Baghaei said both sides exchanged views on common principles and procedures for managing secure maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz while respecting the sovereign rights of the two coastal states. He added that technical and political discussions between Iran and Oman were continuing.

CBS News, citing two regional sources, also reported progress in the talks between the two countries. The sources said that although the situation was moving in a positive direction, diplomacy would need more time before an agreement could be reached. The report cited Middle East Eye as its source.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, warned that any country supporting the United States would be considered a legitimate target. The warning, reported on July 26, 2026, said this could include the United Kingdom and Persian Gulf states.

An IRGC spokesperson said Israel would receive a devastating response if it returned to conflict. The report did not provide details on potential operations, types of targets, or any immediate action against a specific country.

The warning followed Tehran’s summoning of Ukrainian diplomats after a bombing of an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. At least one soldier was killed and another injured in the attack. The report said Iran blamed Ukraine for the deadly attack on the vessel.

Iran has accused Ukraine of carrying out an attack in Iran’s section of the southern Caspian Sea, prompting a strong condemnation, diplomatic action and a warning from Tehran. The report, published on July 26, 2026, said Iranian officials viewed the incident with deep concern over the possibility of further attacks. Citing French or international news agencies, it described the episode as the first of its kind.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it summoned Ukraine’s top diplomat in Tehran to register a formal protest over the alleged attack. Tehran said the incident in the Caspian Sea constituted a clear violation of the United Nations Charter. In a separate statement, the ministry described Ukraine’s action as hostile behavior against Iran and issued a stern warning.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the matter by telephone with the European Union’s foreign policy chief. He called on the international community and the UN Security Council to speak out and formally condemn the attack. Analysts cited in the report said the incident came at a critical time for Iran, which is already facing severe pressure on maritime trade because of a US naval blockade.

Iran has said it has no interest in directly joining or intervening in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The position was reiterated in a recent statement by Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday. Tehran said it supports reducing the war and easing tensions, according to the statement.

Iran also said it is ready to mediate if needed to help resolve the conflict. The report said Tehran has maintained the same position since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. Iranian authorities said they oppose becoming directly involved in the war or making the situation more complicated.

Iran and Russia nevertheless maintain close military relations, with long-running trade in military equipment and weapons between the two countries. Despite that background of military cooperation, Iran said it has no direct interest in the Ukraine war. It also said it is willing to contribute to international diplomatic efforts concerning the conflict.

Iran has strongly condemned what it described as a Ukrainian attack in the Caspian Sea and summoned a senior Ukrainian diplomat, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The report, published on July 26, 2026, said Tehran viewed the incident as the first of its kind and expressed deep concern that similar attacks could happen again.

The ministry protested the attack as a violation of the United Nations Charter. In a separate statement, it went beyond condemnation and issued a direct warning over what it called Ukraine’s hostile attitude toward Iran. The report described the development as significant amid pressure on Iran’s maritime trade.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also discussed the matter by telephone with the European Union’s foreign policy chief. He called on the international community and the UN Security Council to respond to and condemn the attack. The report said Iran is already facing a US maritime blockade that has placed severe pressure on its seaborne commerce.

President Donald Trump on Friday directed the US military not to launch new attacks on Iran, pausing strikes that had continued for nearly two weeks, Axios reported Saturday, citing two sources familiar with the matter. After authorizing airstrikes for 13 days, Trump did not approve plans for fresh attacks on Friday.

It remains unclear whether the pause is temporary or signals a broader policy shift. The report said the decision indicates that Trump wants to leave more room for diplomatic discussions and believes the current scope of military action has reached its limit without entering a new major war. The US military is continuing preparations for a possible escalation, but Trump has not ordered such action.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the United States could continue or intensify the attacks and had the ability to destroy everything Iran has. However, he said the smartest current strategy was to reach an agreement with Iran. He said talks were under way, while later telling a White House Correspondents' Association dinner that Iran did not appear ready for a deal, though he was willing to listen.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, has warned that Britain and any other country assisting US military operations against Iran would become a “legitimate target.” An IRGC spokesperson issued the warning in a recent statement to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, according to Al Jazeera. The source does not specify the date of the statement.

The spokesperson said countries including Britain and states on the Persian Gulf coast would certainly become IRGC targets if they cooperated in a US attack on Iran. Referring specifically to Britain, the spokesperson said US B-1 bombers had recently used British air bases to carry out attacks on Iran.

The spokesperson said any form of cooperation with the United States would make those countries precise and legitimate targets. The warning came two weeks after the British government enacted legislation designating the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. Under the new security law, people who support or assist the IRGC in Britain may face prison sentences of up to 14 years.

Iran has claimed that it destroyed 11 US warplanes and helicopters stationed at American military bases during a recent 15-day war with the United States. Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, made the assertion in an interview with the semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Saturday. He said the attacks were carried out between July 8 and July 22.

According to Mohebbi, the destroyed equipment included 17 intelligence, surveillance and operational drones, eight of them brand new. He also claimed the attacks destroyed an F-15 fighter jet kept in a heavily protected hangar, a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and a C-17 military transport aircraft.

The IRGC spokesperson further said eight aerial refuelling aircraft were destroyed. He stated that the aircraft were hit while on the ground at US military bases, but provided no information about the locations of the targeted bases. There was no immediate response from the United States to Iran's claims.

Iran says it sold $18 billion worth of oil during its war with the United States and the subsequent ceasefire, according to a report citing Al Jazeera. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said the revenue from those sales has made a significant contribution to the oil-income target set in the country’s current fiscal-year budget.

Paknejad said proceeds from oil sales have met more than 60 percent of the budget’s planned oil-revenue target for the current fiscal year. He attributed increased Iranian oil exports to a reduction in risks associated with the movement of oil tankers.

The minister also said Iran was able to sell part of its stockpiled crude oil and gas condensate, estimated at about 100 million barrels. The report did not specify the buyers, export destinations, the precise period of the conflict or ceasefire, or a breakdown between crude oil and gas-condensate sales.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi directly blamed the United States for instability in the Strait of Hormuz and regional security during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kazakhstan. In the report published on July 25, Araghchi described US treaty violations as the sole cause of the current tension, uncertainty and insecurity.

According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Araghchi strongly condemned what he called “barbaric attacks” by the United States on Iran’s vital infrastructure and alleged “war crimes.” He said the US administration had created obstacles preventing Iran from fulfilling its commitments under Article 5 of the Islamabad agreement.

Araghchi said Iran remained fully committed to defending its national sovereignty and territorial integrity against US military aggression. He also called on all countries not to accept the abuse of power or the use of military force as a normal practice in international relations. The report did not provide details of any agreement, joint statement or further steps from the meeting.

US military forces disabled an oil tanker near Iran’s border after firing into its engine room, according to a report published on July 25, 2026. The incident occurred amid concerns that the conflict could spread beyond Iran’s boundaries and develop into a regional war.

US Central Command spokesman and Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told Al Jazeera that the tanker’s crew tried at least four times to move forward through an imposed blockade. He said the crew ignored repeated warnings and orders, prompting US forces at the scene to fire at the vessel’s engine room. The tanker’s journey toward Iran has now been halted, Hawkins said.

Military analysts said Washington may present the action as enforcement of its military blockade, but viewed it as a clear sign of a widening conflict. International relations analysts also said the United States and Saudi Arabia could carry out further military strikes to remove the Houthi blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Atlantic Council senior fellow Thomas Warrick said additional military measures could be taken to change the Houthis’ position.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would not tolerate any form of threat or pressure while attending a conference in Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian country. The remarks were reported on July 25, 2026, amid ongoing regional and global tensions.

During the conference, Araghchi stressed that Iran fears no one and would not submit to pressure. “We are not afraid of anyone and will not surrender to any kind of pressure,” he said, according to the report.

The report described the statement as a clear message from Tehran to the international community about Iran’s position. It did not identify the conference, name other participants, or provide details of any follow-up measures or discussions.