Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has attacked and halted another vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement released on July 12, 2026. The IRGC warned that if aggression by the United States and Israel continues, Iran will take more destructive measures. The incident follows an earlier attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship named MV GFS Galaxy, which was also targeted by the IRGC while crossing the same strategic waterway.

Reports indicate that the crew of one of the attacked container ships abandoned the vessel and took refuge in a rescue boat. Iran stated that it fired warning shots at a ship moving through unauthorized routes and subsequently closed the vital Strait of Hormuz. The country also issued a warning of a “strong response” to any further provocations.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical maritime route for global oil transport, and the latest escalation adds to regional tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has accused the United States of trying to impose its will on Oman. In a statement issued amid ongoing attacks, the IRGC claimed that Washington attempted to send several ships through a southern route of the Strait of Hormuz, but the effort was thwarted by Iran’s navy through what it described as a firm and decisive response.

According to the statement, the United States subsequently launched strikes on several coastal bases and telecommunications towers along Iran’s southern coast. The IRGC said it responded with a “devastating reply” to what it called American aggression, identifying its attack on Jordan’s Prince Hassan Air Base as part of that retaliation. The force described this as the first phase of its response and warned that further, harsher actions would follow if U.S. aggression continued.

The report also noted that Pakistan urged both the United States and Iran to resolve the crisis diplomatically, while Kuwait and Saudi Arabia condemned Iran’s retaliatory attack.

Iran has carried out coordinated attacks on US military installations in three Middle Eastern countries—Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, multiple drone strikes targeted US facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. The Iranian army said it struck a Patriot air defense system, an ammunition depot and a radar site in Kuwait, while in Bahrain it attacked a US communication system and another radar site.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that its aerospace forces launched several ballistic missiles at US military positions located at Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan. The IRGC claimed the strikes destroyed a command-and-control center and hangars housing MQ-9 drones.

Iran’s military stated that these operations were conducted in retaliation for continued US attacks on southern regions of Iran. The report cited Al Jazeera as its source and noted that the strikes mark a significant escalation in regional tensions.

A container ship named MV GFS Galaxy, sailing under the Cypriot flag, was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting its crew to abandon the vessel and take refuge in a rescue boat. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the development, citing updates from military authorities and the ship’s security officer.

According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the attack was carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) while the ship was transiting the strategic waterway. The assault caused a fire onboard and severe damage to the engine room, leaving the vessel unable to continue its voyage. One civilian crew member remains missing following the incident.

The report comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the situation in the Strait of Hormuz drawing international concern over maritime security and potential diplomatic fallout between the United States and Iran.

The United States has launched a third round of overnight airstrikes on Iran following an attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Al Jazeera, the operation began at 7:15 p.m. local time on Saturday under the directive of President Donald Trump. The U.S. Central Command confirmed that the targeted vessel, the Cyprus-flagged M/V GFS Galaxy, suffered severe engine damage and one civilian sailor remains missing.

The escalation follows days of retaliatory attacks between the two countries, prompting President Trump to cancel a ceasefire while maintaining that diplomatic channels remain open. Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the ship had been traveling through an unauthorized route, and warned of a strong response to any U.S. action. Iranian state media reported multiple explosions across southern provinces including Bushehr, Hormozgan, and Khuzestan.

The conflict has destabilized the Gulf region and driven global fuel prices sharply higher, intensifying inflationary pressures worldwide. The situation has also become politically sensitive for President Trump ahead of the upcoming November election.

Iran announced on Sunday that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz, claiming a vessel was moving through an unauthorized route and was stopped after being attacked. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy stated that the ship had turned off its identification system, disrupting maritime security. The IRGC warned that the strait would remain closed until further notice and until U.S. interference in the region ends, adding that any aggression against Iran would be met with a strong response.

Senior U.S. officials said on Friday that Washington wants Iran to publicly commit to halting attacks on ships and to keep all maritime routes open without tolls. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that despite rising tensions, both sides agreed to continue talks and that a ceasefire had ended. Reuters reported that Iran, the United States, Qatar, and Pakistan had agreed in principle to hold discussions, with Oman facilitating contacts.

Oman’s foreign minister met Iran’s Abbas Araghchi in Muscat to discuss measures ensuring safe navigation. Oman’s state news agency said technical and political talks on the issue would continue. The conflict, which began after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in February, has driven up global energy prices.

Iran has warned that it will not leave the recent U.S. attack unanswered and declared itself fully prepared for war. The statement came from Ali Safari, adviser to the spokesperson of Iran’s Foreign Ministry, who accused Washington of failing to honor commitments made under a memorandum of understanding signed on June 16. According to that agreement, Iran was to take responsibility for the future management of the Strait of Hormuz through discussions with Oman and other countries.

Safari criticized the creation of a southern maritime route under U.S. pressure, saying it obstructed the earlier agreement and posed serious security risks and potential conflict in the region. He described the continued use of that route as irresponsible and warned that the United States must either respect the agreement it signed 23 days earlier or withdraw from it.

Reaffirming Iran’s position, Safari stated that the country is far stronger than Washington imagines and is ready for war if necessary.

Iran is reportedly attempting an unprecedented move to assert control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, following a recent attack on a ship off the coast of Oman. According to Ian Ralby, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Maritime Strategy, Tehran is seeking not only to impose a permit system but also to enforce payment and monitoring mechanisms in the waterway, potentially through military means.

Ralby described the development as unprecedented and warned that it poses risks to global free navigation and the world economy. He noted that if Iran succeeds, other nations might follow similar paths, undermining international maritime norms. The recent attack has already led to a sharp decline in commercial shipping activity in the area, with most vessels now navigating only through Iranian waters.

The report suggests that Iran’s strategy is beginning to take effect, signaling a shift in control dynamics in one of the world’s most critical maritime routes.

Bollywood singer, composer, and pianist Adnan Sami has released a special four-song musical project dedicated to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The project, unveiled on Friday, July 10, 2026, has already drawn significant international attention. Each of the four original songs explores themes of leadership, resilience, endurance, and remembrance, marking a distinctive addition to Sami’s extensive musical repertoire.

According to the official X handle of the Iranian Embassy in Australia, the Padma Shri award-winning artist created this project as a tribute to Khamenei, with one of the songs titled “Ya Allah” shared through the embassy’s post. Over his three-decade career, Sami has performed across South Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, blending Indian classical, pop, and orchestral styles to build a unique musical identity.

The new project is viewed by observers as another exceptional chapter in Adnan Sami’s long artistic journey, further expanding his creative legacy in international music circles.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has pledged to avenge the killing of his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and all martyrs who died in recent wars. In a written message released on social media on Saturday, Mojtaba declared that Iran would take revenge on the perpetrators and that the act of retribution was inevitable, regardless of who leads the country.

He emphasized that the pursuit of revenge was not dependent on any individual or official, asserting that it would be carried out whether or not the current leadership remains in place. Mojtaba also expressed gratitude to the millions who attended mourning ceremonies across Iran and Iraq, praising the “historic and defiant” turnout in cities including Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala, and Mashhad.

The message was issued following the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad late Thursday night, after a state funeral held several months after his death.

Iran has reopened a rail bridge in Golestan province’s Aqqala County less than 24 hours after it was damaged by a United States strike. Authorities said the bridge’s restoration has allowed train operations to return to normal. The bridge is part of the Gorgan–Incheh Borun railway, which connects northern Iran with Turkmenistan and the wider Central Asian rail network.

According to Iran’s state radio and television news agency, Golestan Governor Ali-Asghar Tahmasbi described the rapid reopening as a practical response to enemy threats and actions. Earlier, Iranian state media reported that the US attack occurred early Wednesday near Aqqala, damaging a section of the railway.

The Gorgan–Incheh Borun line forms a key segment of the China–Turkmenistan–Iran rail corridor, an important route linking Iran to Central Asia. The swift restoration underscores Iran’s effort to maintain regional connectivity despite external attacks.

The United States has asked Iran to make a public commitment to stop attacks on commercial ships and to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Washington intends to raise this demand in talks scheduled to begin Saturday in Oman. US media, citing unnamed officials, reported that Tehran privately admitted to President Donald Trump’s advisers that the recent ship shooting was a mistake, blaming an uncontrolled internal faction for the incident.

According to senior US officials quoted by CBS News and Reuters, Washington wants Iran to publicly acknowledge the attack as an error and to declare the waterway open for safe navigation. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s adviser Jared Kushner are expected to lead the US delegation. A Qatari delegation also visited Tehran on Friday to help ease tensions and facilitate dialogue.

The Oman talks follow a June ceasefire agreement and a 14-point memorandum aimed at expanding the truce and defining future maritime administration of the strait in coordination with Oman and other Gulf states.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi arrived in Muscat on Saturday to meet with Oman's foreign minister as part of ongoing discussions on managing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The two countries have been holding talks for the past two months on arrangements for vessel movement through the strategic waterway.

Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that Tehran holds sovereign rights over the management of the Strait of Hormuz to ensure its safety and security. According to Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, the ministers are expected to discuss strategies to guarantee the safe passage of ships through the strait.

Araghchi’s visit comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts following recent reciprocal attacks between the United States and Iran, signaling attempts to stabilize regional tensions through dialogue.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on Saturday for discussions focused on bilateral relations and the current regional situation. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, senior Omani officials welcomed him upon arrival. Although the detailed schedule of the visit has not been released, IRNA reported that the tense situation in the Strait of Hormuz is expected to be one of the main topics of discussion.

The visit comes amid renewed tensions between Iran and the United States following recent attacks on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which both sides have blamed on each other. In response to a U.S. strike last Thursday, Tehran launched missile and drone attacks targeting American military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan. These developments follow a memorandum of understanding signed in mid-June, brokered by Pakistan, aimed at reducing military conflict and establishing a lasting peace agreement between Iran and the United States.

Araghchi’s trip to Oman takes place against this backdrop of escalating hostilities, suggesting diplomatic efforts may be underway to ease the crisis.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the country’s armed forces are maintaining constant vigilance over enemy movements. In a post on social media platform X, he said the Islamic Republic’s forces are closely monitoring activities along Iran’s coasts, islands, borders, and other sensitive areas to ensure national security.

Baghaei added that those defending the homeland continue to safeguard Iran’s peace and security. In a separate interview with IRIB on Friday, he clarified that Iran has not made any request to hold talks with the United States. He also emphasized that breaking promises has become a habit for the United States, underscoring Tehran’s distrust of Washington’s commitments.

The comments reflect Iran’s continued focus on national defense and its critical stance toward U.S. reliability in diplomatic engagements, as reported by Al Jazeera.