War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

The IRGC says its forces have destroyed eight US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, Al Jazeera reports, citing state broadcaster IRIB.

The statement said ballistic missiles and drones were used in the strikes, which it described as retaliation for recent US attacks on Iranian facilities in Sirik and Qeshm.

Iraqi President Nizar Amidi has emphasised resolving regional disputes through diplomacy and dialogue during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s IRNA news agency reports.

Iran has called for the establishment of a clear timetable for Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied areas of Lebanon, describing it as an essential condition for achieving a lasting agreement to end the war and ensure regional stability, Iran’s Press TV reports.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, “Iran’s position is based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental rules of international law.”

He stressed that respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity was “indispensable for the durability of any agreement concerning the cessation of hostilities and Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory”.

“Tehran has placed an end to Israel’s military offensive in Lebanon alongside the termination of hostilities against Iran as one of its principal demands and has consistently insisted on the implementation of those commitments.”

He also called for the prompt establishment of a timetable for Israel’s unconditional withdrawal from the occupied areas of Lebanon, saying, “Such a step is necessary for the successful implementation of the agreement and the achievement of durable peace and security.”

The Qatari Ministry of Interior has said that a “citizen was martyred after sustaining injuries from shrapnel resulting from the military operations in the area”.

“The Ministry of Interior clarifies that, as part of routine monitoring and verification procedures for maritime vessels conducted by the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, it was noted that a vessel with two individuals on board had failed to return at its scheduled time,” the statement posted on X said.

Flights between Tehran and Dubai are to resume on Monday, AFP reports, citing the Iranian state media.

Iranian state TV and other media quoted Ramin Kashefazar, the head of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport, as saying that “the necessary arrangements have been made to reopen the Tehran-Dubai route at Imam Khomeini Airport”.

Tickets were available to buy on the website of Iranian airline Sepehran for Monday’s 10:40am (0730 GMT) flight to Dubai.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has condemned the “reckless” Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait.

In a social media post on X, Cooper said, “I strongly condemn the recent attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and in the Strait of Hormuz.”

“These reckless attacks, including on international shipping, are putting civilian lives at risk, and curtailing freedom of navigation.”

“The implementation of the US–Iran agreement is essential to keep people safe and ships moving,” she said.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that Tehran is committed to ending Israel’s war on Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports, citing Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Ghalibaf discussed the latest developments in the Middle East with the Lebanese counterpart Nabih Berri.

During their phone conversation, Ghalibaf said the first paragraph of the memorandum with the US addresses the end of hostilities in Lebanon and the preservation of its territorial integrity. He said Iran is “seriously pursuing” the removal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.

Berri acknowledged Iran’s efforts in Switzerland as being in the interests of the Lebanese people, but accused Washington of attempting to sidestep the issue of Lebanon’s sovereignty. He described US dealings with Israel as a “conspiracy and sedition”.

Both stressed the need for the newly formed “deconfliction” unit to meet urgently to address Israel’s ongoing invasion of Lebanon.

Israel’s army chief of staff, General Eyal Zamir, has said that “we will honour the agreement” with Iran and will “work to ensure its success,” Al Jazeera reports.

“The agreement signed with the Lebanese government is historic and of great significance. The operational strength and military achievements recorded by the [army] in recent months are what laid the groundwork for this agreement,” General Zamir said in a statement.

“We will honour the agreement and work to ensure its success. The real test now is how both sides behave on the ground, and the coming period will determine the course of the next phase.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has expressed “deep concern” over the evolving situation during a telephonic conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Foreign Office (FO) said.

In a statement shared on X, the FO said that FM Dar held a telephonic conversation today with his Saudi counterpart.

“The two leaders held in-depth discussion on recent developments in the region and expressed deep concern over the evolving situation,” it stated.

During the call, FM Dar reiterated “Pakistan’s resolve to continue working towards the prevalence of peace in the region in pursuance of the ‘Islamabad MoU’,” the FO added.

FM Dar also expressed sincere condolences on behalf of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, himself, the government and the people of Pakistan over the “sad incident” of a helicopter crash in Saudi Arabia, which resulted in the loss of 14 precious lives, the FO maintained,  

The Saudi foreign minister also conveyed that he plans to visit Pakistan on mutually convenient dates at the earliest.

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik on Sunday said that Pakistan was “considering” purchasing cheaper Iranian oil and gas.

The option of sourcing Iranian crude oil supplies has again become available to Pakistan after a temporary easing of US sanctions on Tehran. By availing this opportunity, Pakistan could source discounted crude and refine it locally to produce higher-value petroleum products.

Sourcing crude oil from Iran could generate import cost savings of $170-340 million for Pakistan, assuming it imports 10-20 per cent of its total petroleum requirement at a discount, including freight savings.

But, while industry experts say local refineries are technically capable of processing Iranian crude, commercial and operational challenges remain, particularly due to the high furnace oil yield and the absence of significant domestic demand for the fuel.

Against this backdrop, Malik said while speaking to the media in Lahore that Pakistan was now mulling sourcing cheaper crude oil from Iran.

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Ebrahim Rezaei, an Iranian lawmaker and spokesperson for the parliament’s Foreign Policy and National Security Commission, says that the “Strait of Hormuz will not return to its previous state and others have no choice but to submit to Iran’s directives”.

In a social media post on X, Rezaei said, “We unequivocally support the ever-victorious Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ decisive action against the American enemy and the assertion of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz will not return to its previous state, and others have no choice but to submit to Iran’s directives in the Strait.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has reiterated the country’s insistence that Hezbollah must be disarmed for “peace and security” to be achieved in Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports.

In a social media post marking his meeting with South Sudanese counterpart, James Pitia Morgan, in Jerusalem, Sa’ar said, “Israel’s desire for peace with Lebanon as reflected in the framework agreement signed this weekend”.

Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, denounced Iran’s latest attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait, warning that further escalation could undermine recent diplomatic efforts.

“I express my strongest condemnation for the new Iranian attacks that struck Bahrain and Kuwait in recent hours, to which the Italian government extends its full solidarity,” Tajani said on X.

“It is essential to avoid any escalation that could jeopardise the understandings painstakingly reached.”

Tajani also reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of navigation.

“Italy reiterates its commitment to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to achieving a Middle East of peace and stability as quickly as possible.”

Advisor to the Iranian supreme leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, says that “Hezbollah is the pillar of the tent and the true guardian of Lebanon’s existence and independence.”

Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), says the strikes “undermine international and regional efforts aimed at establishing security and peace and resolving the crisis,” Al Jazeera reports.

“Treacherous attacks constitute a direct threat to the security, stability and safety of citizens and residents on the lands of Bahrain and Kuwait, and a clear violation of the rules of international law and the charter of the United Nations,” a statement quoted him as saying.

“The GCC affirmed its support for all measures taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Kuwait to strengthen their security, safeguard their sovereignty, and preserve the integrity of their territories,” he added.

In his Judiciary Week message, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has said that “the confessions and even brazen boasting of some of the leaders of the US-Zionist enemy regarding these crimes are indisputably an admission of crime,” which “effectively pave the way for the vindication of the [Iranian] nation’s rights that have been violated.”

Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, spokesperson for the Iranian Army, says that the country has managed to manufacture more advanced and sophisticated military hardware during the recent 40-day-long US-Israeli war of aggression, Iran’s Press TV reports.

“We were able to bring them into service right in the midst of the war,” he said, adding, “Additionally, we optimized missiles utilized by the Armed Forces, both by the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and manufactured them with much higher quality. This shows that while we were using existing hardware, we did not overlook research and development.”

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry has condemned the “brutal Iranian attacks” on the two Gulf countries, calling them also “a threat to their security and stability, and the safety of their territories,” Al Jazeera reports.

“[The attacks are] a dangerous escalation, and a blatant breach of international law and the United Nations Charter,” it added.

The ministry expressed “Jordan’s absolute solidarity with the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain and the sisterly State of Kuwait”.

In a message marking the country’s Judiciary Week, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has said that the child killings and the war crimes in Minab and Lamerd must be pursued in domestic and international courts.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei says that the country’s most pressing legal challenge is pursuing the rights violated by “international criminals and global aggressors”, Iran’s Press TV reports.

“The blood of those killed in the two wars of aggression against Iran – waged by the United States and Israel in June 2025 and February 2026 – together with the physical, psychological, material, and spiritual damage inflicted on Iran and its people inside and outside the country, forms the basis for hundreds or even thousands of significant legal cases,” the supreme leader was quoted as saying.

“What is certain is that the criminals must be brought to justice and made to face the consequences of their criminal acts.”

The United Arab Emirates has condemned Iranian drone and missile strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait, Al Jazeera reports.

In a statement, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attacks “a blatant violation of sovereignty” of the Gulf states and a threat to “security and stability”.

Iran’s top diplomat warned any attempt to bypass the Strait of Hormuz routes agreed with the US would “increase tensions” in the Middle East as the countries traded attacks and accusations of violating a fragile ceasefire.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, has “expressed serious concerns at the recent ceasefire violations and stressed that channels of communication must remain open”, the Foreign Office says.

In a phone call, Deputy PM and FM Ishaq Dar and Kallas reviewed the “rapidly evolving regional situation”.

“She appreciated Pakistan’s sincere efforts culminating in signing of the Islamabad MoU. However, she expressed serious concerns at the recent ceasefire violations and stressed that channels of communication must remain open,” the FO said.

Dar apprised Kallas about Pakistan’s “continued diplomatic efforts” and emphasised the “necessity for all parties to abide by the ceasefire agreement”.

Qatar has slammed the Iranian missile-and-drone attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain as “a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the two countries and a flagrant breach of the rules of international law”, Al Jazeera reports.

The foreign ministry stressed the “need to spare the region the consequences of unjustified attacks, to continue on the path of dialogue and diplomacy, to reduce escalation, and to build on the gains achieved within the framework of the memorandum of understanding in a way that contributes to consolidating security and stability at the regional and international levels”, a statement said.

The ministry reiterated Qatar’s “full solidarity” with Kuwait and Bahrain.