Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would never submit to the United States and would not accept the language of threats. He made the remarks to journalists on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation foreign ministers’ council meeting in Kyrgyzstan on July 24, 2026.

Citing Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the report said Araghchi described discussions with Russia and China as ongoing. He said Iranian officials hold regular talks with their friends in China and Russia whenever opportunities arise. He also said the United States’ approach is the main obstacle to advancing peace negotiations.

Addressing the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said protecting Iran’s interests there is a fundamental part of Tehran’s policy and that the country remains committed to it. He said Iranian efforts would continue until what he called the legitimate goals and demands of the Iranian people are met.

Iran has directly rejected a new US ceasefire proposal conveyed to Tehran by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, according to a Friday New York Times report. The proposal came amid nearly two weeks of fighting between the United States and Iran. The report said al-Zaidi brought the offer during a visit to Tehran after meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House. Details of the proposal were not disclosed, although Iranian officials described it as the only proposal currently available.

Iran rejected the offer because it did not include a specific solution to issues concerning control of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, the report said. The New York Times said it could not independently confirm the matter with Iranian authorities. During his visit, al-Zaidi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and discussed bilateral relations, regional political conditions, security and stability. Iranian officials said both governments called for greater cooperation in trade, energy, transport and regional issues.

US Central Command said US forces struck Iranian military and strategic targets for a 13th consecutive night. Iranian authorities said 53 people had been killed and at least 592 injured in the continuing attacks.

The United States military carried out its 13th consecutive night of strikes across multiple targets in Iran, including military installations, coastal surveillance centers and residential areas, according to the report. The attacks reportedly shook Tehran and several other cities and hit strategic coastal locations and drone storage facilities; US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iran's military command center, drone storage, communications systems, coastal monitoring centers and naval capabilities.

Iranian state media and news agencies reported loud explosions in several mainland cities and strategic coastal towns, including Khondab outskirts, Khorramabad, Konarak and the port city of Jask near the Strait of Hormuz. Reports said residential areas were struck and at least two people were injured in a strike on a residential neighborhood in Bandar Abbas. Iranian air defenses were reported on high alert in eastern Tehran to intercept incoming targets.

Iranian officials warned that if US attacks do not cease, Tehran will respond with progressively more destructive and severe reprisals, including actions aimed at US military installations across the Middle East as a deterrent measure.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran could have become the richest country in the Middle East if it had chosen a different path. Speaking at a press conference in the Philippines, Rubio said Iran is destroying its own future under the leadership of hardline clerics who neglect economic issues.

He accused Iran’s leadership of diverting national wealth to groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Shia militias instead of investing in its own development. Rubio emphasized that the United States’ main goal remains a nuclear weapons–free Iran, warning of the potential global consequences if Tehran were to possess such weapons.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect Washington’s continued concern over Iran’s regional activities and nuclear ambitions, highlighting ongoing tensions between the two nations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for utilizing all existing opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations between Tehran and Islamabad. He made the remarks on Wednesday in Tehran while receiving the credentials of Pakistan’s newly appointed ambassador, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui. Pezeshkian also emphasized the importance of unity among Muslim nations.

Describing Pakistan as a brotherly country and a second home for Iranians, Pezeshkian said Tehran attaches great importance to its relationship with Islamabad. According to the Pakistani embassy in Tehran, the Iranian president praised Pakistan’s efforts to advance dialogue between Iran and the United States, noting Islamabad’s sincere commitment to peace. He expressed hope that bilateral relations would grow stronger in the coming years.

Ambassador Siddiqui conveyed greetings from Pakistan’s leadership to President Pezeshkian and the people of Iran. He highlighted the vast potential for expanding cooperation between the two countries in trade, economy, energy, and other sectors.

The United States carried out airstrikes across Iran for the 12th consecutive night, targeting multiple military facilities including missile, drone, and naval sites. The attacks struck areas such as Bushehr and Khuzestan provinces, where local officials confirmed multiple missile impacts. The US Central Command stated that the strikes aimed to degrade Iran’s naval and air defense capabilities, while over 50,000 US troops remain on high alert across the Middle East.

President Donald Trump warned that US forces could expand operations to include Iranian civilian infrastructure such as bridges, drawing sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers. They argued that such actions would violate international wartime norms. Military analysts noted a gap between Trump’s rhetoric and the Pentagon’s current operational limits, which have so far remained targeted and contained.

Iran responded with threats to disrupt oil exports from US allies in the Persian Gulf if its own oil sales remain blocked. The escalating confrontation has raised fears of broader regional instability and potential global economic disruption.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed that Tehran would deliver a firm and precise response to any attack targeting Iran’s territory or national infrastructure. In a social media post, he warned that any party assisting the United States in a potential strike against Iran would also face retaliatory action.

According to Al Jazeera, Araghchi stated that Iran would consider all entities directly involved in or supporting an assault as legitimate targets. His remarks came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning that if Iran attacked any ship in the Strait of Hormuz using missiles, rockets, or drones, the United States would bomb and destroy one of Iran’s bridges or power plants.

Following these exchanges, tensions in the Middle East escalated further, heightening concerns over possible military confrontation between the two nations.

Two people were killed in a US strike near the Shalamcheh area along the Iran-Iraq border, according to Iranian officials. The deputy governor of Iran’s Khuzestan province confirmed the incident, which occurred as individuals were crossing the border. The report was carried by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.

Despite the attack, border crossings have not been suspended, the official said. Rescue and relief operations are continuing at the site. The report did not specify the identities of the victims or the reason for the strike.

The incident adds to ongoing tensions in the region, where previous reports have mentioned continued US strikes in Iran and threats of retaliation from Tehran. However, no immediate response from US authorities was included in the report.

An Iranian military spokesperson stated that the country continues to produce missiles and attack drones despite ongoing US strikes. According to state media Press TV, spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said the United States has not yet identified the locations of Iran’s missile production centers. He added that missiles are being sent directly from factories to operational units while stockpiles are being replenished.

Shekarchi noted that Iran has maintained missile and drone production during every phase of the US-Israel conflict, including periods when a memorandum of understanding was in effect. Al Jazeera reported that Iran has withstood US attacks more effectively than expected by the Trump administration. A CIA assessment in May indicated that Iran retained about 70 percent of its prewar missile stockpile.

The report also highlighted that Iranian-made weapons, particularly drones, are relatively inexpensive to produce but cost the United States millions of dollars to counter.

At an ASEAN meeting held in the Philippines, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran’s economy and military capacity have been severely damaged by the ongoing US-Israel war. Citing information reported by Al Jazeera, Rubio claimed that for the past 20 years Iran has prioritized missile development over spending for its citizens. He also noted that US casualties are increasing, adding that risks are inevitable in a war zone.

Rubio further alleged that Iran’s military infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, yet the government has long focused its resources on strengthening military capabilities rather than public welfare. Responding to a question about Tehran’s ability to launch attacks, he said this situation demonstrates Iran’s consistent investment in its missile and drone programs over the last two decades.

The remarks came amid continuing US strikes in Iran and heightened regional tensions, with related developments including Saudi-US nuclear cooperation and Houthi missile attacks on Saudi vessels.

Iran’s military has carried out drone attacks on US bases located in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. According to a statement released by Iran’s armed forces, the strikes were conducted as retaliation for what it described as US military aggression. The attacks targeted multiple facilities including housing, welfare buildings, and equipment depots used by American forces.

The statement detailed that drones struck the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq, Jordan, and the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, hitting storage areas and aircraft maintenance hangars. In Kuwait, the Iranian military targeted ammunition depots and ground force supply facilities at Camp Doha. The semi-official Tasnim news agency published the statement outlining these operations.

The report did not mention any casualties or the extent of damage caused by the attacks. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and the United States in the region.

Iran has relocated thousands of nuclear centrifuges to a highly fortified underground facility known as “Pickaxe Mountain” near Natanz, according to U.S. and Israeli officials cited by The Wall Street Journal. The transfer reportedly took place in the autumn of last year, and the site remained intact during the 2025 U.S.-Israel strike. The facility is built more than 300 feet deep into solid granite rock, with satellite imagery and intelligence indicating ongoing construction and truck movement over the past 15 months. The exact origin of the transferred centrifuges remains unclear.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not yet been granted access to inspect the site. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that Iran had disclosed plans for nuclear activity there in 2021. U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible strike on the Pickaxe site, while former U.S. official Nate Swanson warned that any nuclear activity outside international oversight would be deeply concerning.

Iran continues to assert that its nuclear program is peaceful and intended for civilian purposes.

The United States carried out airstrikes in Iran for the 11th consecutive night, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). The strikes targeted Iran’s military command centers, naval assets, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and logistical infrastructure, aiming to reduce Iran’s capability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. During the attacks, multiple explosions were reported across Tehran, prompting activation of the city’s air defense systems.

Iranian media reported explosions in southern cities including Bushehr and Sirik, as well as missile strikes near Behbahan and Omidiyeh in Khuzestan province. In the northwest, a military site near Tabriz was also hit around 2:40 a.m. local time, though no attacks occurred inside the city itself. The latest wave of strikes expanded beyond southern Iran and the Hormuz area, suggesting a shift in US targeting patterns.

The escalation follows recent incidents in which Iran allegedly launched attacks on Gulf countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. Kuwait’s military recently claimed to have downed an Iranian drone, underscoring rising regional tensions.

The US Department of Defense has confirmed that around 100 American soldiers were injured over the past two weeks in attacks linked to escalating tensions with Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for strikes on US military installations, air defense systems, and a radar site in Bahrain and Kuwait. On the same day, an oil tanker was damaged by an unidentified missile in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing its crew to evacuate. Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan reported activating their defense systems to repel attacks.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said most of the injured soldiers suffered mild concussions, with 96 percent already back on duty. He denied allegations that the Pentagon concealed casualty information. Meanwhile, three US soldiers were killed in Jordan and Iraq during the past week. Despite ten consecutive nights of US airstrikes, Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz remains strong, affecting global oil transport routes.

The ongoing conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up global oil prices, with Brent crude trading above $88 per barrel and US gasoline averaging $4 per gallon.

Iran has intensified attacks on military and civilian infrastructure in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan in response to continued US air and missile strikes. Analysts told Al Jazeera that Tehran’s strategy aims to pressure US President Donald Trump without directly targeting American naval fleets or Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly struck airports, power plants, and water treatment facilities after US attacks severely damaged Iran’s railways, power grids, telecommunications, and water systems.

Lebanese analyst Elias Hanna explained that Iran avoided US naval targets due to their advanced air defenses and the risk of severe retaliation. Tehran University’s Atife Taghiani argued that Iran has the legal right to strike territories used for attacks against it, while Kuwait University’s Abdullah Al-Shayji dismissed this as propaganda, asserting that US strikes originated from warships stationed offshore. Al-Shayji criticized Iran for endangering civilians by targeting essential infrastructure.

The conflict began after joint US-Israeli strikes in late February, followed by a failed ceasefire agreement in June. Experts believe Iran’s current actions reflect both fear of direct confrontation and an attempt to manage domestic discontent.