War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Two ⁠oil ⁠tankers loaded with Saudi crude for China ⁠and India have made ⁠U-turns in the Red Sea and headed for the Suez Canal following a warning from Yemen’s Houthi militia, according to Al Jazeera.

Kuwaiti air defences are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks, the military says in a statement, calling it “sinful Iranian aggression”.

“The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of the air defence systems intercepting the hostile attacks,” the statement, posted on X, reads. “Everyone is requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities.”

Lebanon’s military says Israeli troops fired near its soldiers deploying in a so-called “pilot zone” Israel is to withdraw from under a US-backed agreement, AFP reports.

While troops were deploying in Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon, Israeli forces “opened fire in the vicinity of these units”, the army says, adding that “the attack will hinder the implementation of deployment in the pilot zones”.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells Fox Business in an interview that there has been a substantial decrease in China’s purchases of Iranian oil, according to Reuters.

Iran’s interior minister, Eskandar Momeni, has held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM House in Islamabad.

According to an X post by the PM’s Office (PMO), the meeting between the two has commenced. The statement did not have any more details about the meeting.

Read more here.

The United Arab Emirates has condemned renewed Iranian attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan with missiles and drones.

In a statement published on X, the UAE foreign ministry calls the attacks “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the brotherly nations and a threat to their security and stability”.

“The ministry reiterated the UAE’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability,” the statement adds.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the US violated its commitments in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding after Tehran’s achievements in the talks “exceeded expectations”, Al Jazeera reports.

“In these negotiations, we moved forward step by step, and our main position was to open the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports and other vital issues, but the other side violated [the deal],” he states, speaking at the National Industry and Mining Day ceremony.

“The achievements of the Islamic republic in this direction far exceeded expectations, and we were able to manage various issues well in a short time.

Pezeshkian adds that Iran’s supreme leader expressed to him in private meetings the necessity of ending the “neither war nor peace” situation in the country.

The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) says that renewed fighting in the region increases concerns over energy supplies, but that the market still has cushions to absorb the impact, AFP reports.

“The escalation in hostilities affecting the Strait of Hormuz and energy infrastructure in the region increases security of supply concerns and uncertainty over the market outlook,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol says in a statement.

“For the moment, crude oil markets continue to benefit from several cushioning factors,” he adds, pointing to increased exports from several countries and Saudi and United Arab Emirates oil reaching markets by alternative routes.

The level of “interaction” with Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is increasing day by day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says in a video clip published on state media, according to Reuters.

Khamenei has not been seen in public since the airstrike that killed his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the start of the war.

Qatar has strongly condemned Yemen’s Houthi rebels for blocking maritime navigation in the Red Sea, as well as statements from the group’s spokesperson accusing Saudi Arabia of “besieging the sister Yemeni people”.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to fulfil its responsibilities in implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722 on the rights and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

The ministry, “affirms that freedom of navigation in international waterways is a fundamental principle of international law, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982”.

“The Ministry renews the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the sister Arab Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and its support for all measures it takes to preserve its sovereignty and security, and affirms that the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an integral part of the security of the State of Qatar and the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States,” the statement concludes.

Kuwait says Iran had hit several power and water desalination plants a day earlier, causing fires in the fourth such wave of attacks in as many days, AFP reports.

“In light of the continued Iranian heinous aggressions on the state of Kuwait, several electricity power plants and water distillation stations were subjected to attacks for the fourth day in a row, resulting in fires in several facilities,” the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy says in a statement on X.

Kuwait says Iran again attacked its power and desalination plants causing damage to the crucial facilities, Al Jazeera reports.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has met with the Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, Prime Minister Office says.

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has made the remarks at a conference in Yad Binyamin in central Israel, Al Jazeera reports.

“Right now, the state of Israel has no interest in joining the campaign,” he has been quoted as saying by the Israeli media.

“The current situation is good for us, and we have no interest in pushing ourselves into it. We are prepared for any scenario.”

As attacks continue between Iran and the US, France says rising fuel prices are “extremely uncertain” with the escalating fighting, Al Jazeera reports.

French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon has told public broadcaster France 2 that rising fuel costs are the consequence of what is happening in the Middle East.

“The French know this, and I understand that it is very difficult for many of our fellow citizens,” she says.

“The trend as we speak is upwards. I am not able to tell you what will happen in the coming days or weeks.”

Bregeon says the government has introduced assistance for “the most exposed sectors” and “the most vulnerable French citizens” to mitigate the impact, adding those eligible can access the support until the end of August.

Oil prices edge higher as markets weigh reports of mediation efforts against fresh attacks exchanged by the US and Iran as well as threats of a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Houthis, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures has risen 48 cents, or 0.5pc, to $89.70 a barrel by 0950 GMT.

The front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude contract, which expires today, is up 59 cents, or 0.7pc, at $83.82.

The more active contract for September delivery has risen 50 cents, or 0.6pc, to $82.98.

“There’s some hope of de-escalation between the US and Iran. Reports are that mediators are proposing a 10-day ceasefire, which could put the memorandum of understanding back on track,” ING analysts have said in a note.

Bahrain sounded sirens after the country’s military had said it intercepted Iranian attacks, nearly two weeks into the resumption of US-Iran hostilities that have included daily attacks on the Gulf kingdom, AFP reports.

“The siren has been sounded, Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” the interior ministry said in a statement on X.

The Jordanian military announced it had intercepted two Iranian attacks, the latest by the Islamic republic on countries in the region following the resumption of the Middle East war, AFP reports.

The military’s “air defence systems intercepted and shot down three Iranian missiles targeting the kingdom at midday today”, the army said in a statement, adding that there had been no casualties or damage caused.

In a statement on Telegram, the Moldovan foreign ministry has urged its citizens already in the region to exercise increased caution, closely monitor updates from local authorities, and strictly follow security instructions during emergencies, Al Jazeera reports.

It warned that airspace restrictions remain in effect in several countries across the region and could disrupt commercial flight schedules.

The ministry advised travellers to remain in contact with airlines or travel agencies, regularly check the status of their flights and consider alternative travel arrangements, provided they do not pose additional security risks.

Bahrain’s military said it had intercepted a number of Iranian attacks, nearly two weeks into the resumption of US-Iran hostilities that have included daily attacks on the Gulf kingdom, AFP reports.

“The air defences of the Bahrain Defence Force intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian aerial aggressions,” the military said in a statement.

Gold prices rose more than 1pc as investors weighed diplomatic efforts to ease the US-Iran conflict, which could temper oil-driven inflation risks and influence the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate path, Reuters reports.

Spot gold XAU= rose 1.6pc to $4,071.59 per ounce by 07:50am GMT. US gold futures GCcv1 for August delivery were up 1.5pc at $4,076.00.

“It looks like gold is trying to find a base somewhere around this ($4,000) level and is going to try to re-engage the upside from there,” said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive.

“These headlines from the Middle East seem to have some degree of knock-on, though it is increasingly only being paid attention to in a passing kind of way.”

After months of “quasi-fighting alongside peace talks, the US and Iran may be lurching closer to all-out war”, The Washington Post notes.

The outlet takes a look at what could happen next.

Read more here.

Jordan has dealt with five drones that it said were launched from Iran since last night, its state news agency says, citing an official military source.

The source said the drones were “neutralised efficiently and accurately” and that the operation did not result in any human casualties or material damage.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, citing a military source, reports that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as long as aggressive US actions continue, Al Jazeera reports.

The source told Fars that Tehran would not grant permission for any vessels to pass through the strategic waterway.

“The Strait of Hormuz is in full control of the Iranian armed forces,” the source was quoted as saying.

“Any decision to reopen or continue restrictions on this passageway will be made solely based on security considerations and national interests, and this situation will not change as long as US threats and hostile actions continue.”