Iran warns of 'eye for an eye' response if infrastructure hit
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that Iran would respond in kind to any attack on its infrastructure, after Washington threatened to bomb a bridge or power plant for every ship targeted in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our defence doctrine is clear: eye for an eye. Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response," Araghchi said on X. Iran's state broadcaster quoted the military as saying that US threats "will have no result other than the expansion of the war".
Israel's spy chief held talks on Iran war in Washington, Axios reports
The head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency traveled to Washington two weeks ago to discuss the Iran war, in his first visit to the U.S. capital since taking office, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two unidentified sources with knowledge of the situation.
He met with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and White House officials, the report said.
The Iran war has cost the US $37.5 billion dollars, Defense Secretary Pete Hesgseth says
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate committee that the Pentagon needs nearly 70 billion dollars in additional funding for the war in Iran. The hearing turned combative as Senators demanded explanations as to the military's strategy to win or otherwise end the war. Story by Bryan Quinn.
Iran's top negotiator says no one will sell oil in the region if Iran cannot
Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Wednesday that no one will be able to sell oil in a region where Iran is not able to do so, adding that if Tehran's security is not ensured, no infrastructure will be safe.
"The equation of this war is clear: either all or none," Qalibaf said in a post on X, adding that the security of the Strait of Hormuz lies in the absence of American forces.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Gulf have prompted US intelligence analysts to investigate whether Russia assisted Iran by providing targeting information or advanced drone technology, Reuters reports.
Four sources familiar with US intelligence told Reuters that US intelligence officials have not yet reached firm conclusions about the possible Russian involvement in the attacks on CIA facilities. But they cited the
strikes' effectiveness and apparent precision, as well as Russia's broader technical support for Iran, as possible evidence.
At least two CIA sites were struck in March, Reuters and other outlets have reported. One of the facilities was the CIA station in Saudi Arabia, which is located in the US embassy in Riyadh, and a separate site was located in eastern Iraq. Some of the sources said additional CIA sites had been hit, but they did not disclose details.
Ancient Lebanese city of Tyre added to heritage danger list
Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city in southern Lebanon hit in recent months by Israeli bombardment, has been added to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in danger.
"The site has been directly hit and has sustained damage. Furthermore, its state of conservation is a cause for growing concern, particularly given the possibility of further impacts," the organisation said.
"Optimal conditions are no longer in place to ensure the conservation and protection of the property's outstanding universal value," said the UN body, adding that it was the Lebanese government that requested its inclusion on the list.
The coastal city was caught up in recent months in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and tens of thousands of its residents fled after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders covering districts including some archaeological areas, though most locals have have since returned.
Trump attends dignified transfer of US service members killed in action
President Donald Trump is attending the dignified transfer of four more service members who were killed in action.
US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth is also attending the ceremony at the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth salute as a US Army team carries the remains of 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan at the Dover Air Force Base, Delaware (Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson, AP)
Yemen's Houthis sent radio warning to ships
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have been recorded sending radio warnings to ships, according to the International Chamber of Shipping.
"We can confirm that the Houthis were recorded transmitting a warning message to ships in the region," the ICS said.
On Monday, the Houthis announced a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis did not say how they would enforce their blockade and have so far not attacked any ships.
If enforced, the embargo could further strain Saudi Arabia's economy by cutting off access to its Red Sea ports, which have been vital for oil exports as renewed fighting limits passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump to attend dignified transfer of US soldiers killed in Iran war
President Donald Trump will attend a ceremony for four US service members killed in Iranian attacks in the Middle East, later today.
The ceremony, known as a "dignified transfer" of the bodies, comes amid growing frustration with Trump's war against Iran.
Trump will travel to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the ceremony.
US presidents, vice presidents and dignitaries regularly attend the solemn transfer ceremonies at Dover – home of the largest US military mortuary – during times of war or conflict that result in the deaths of US troops.
The three US service members killed when an Iranian missile hit their sleeping barracks at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on Friday were First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad, 28, and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19. All three were assigned to US Army air defense brigades.
The fourth death, of Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, occurred on Sunday in a separate incident in Erbil, Iraq, during a controlled detonation of an attack drone.
Trump says US will destroy a bridge or power plant for each Iranian attack in Hormuz
President Donald Trump has warned Iran that the US will destroy one bridge or power plant each time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
In his latest warning on social media, the US president returned to earlier threats to target civilian infrastructure in retaliation for Iranian attacks.
“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT,” Trump wrote on social media.
Iran media reports US strike on Larak island in Hormuz
Iranian news agency Tasnim has reported a US missile strike on the island of Larak in the Strait of Hormuz and said residents heard a loud explosion there.
"At 2:48 pm, the island of Larak was targeted by an American missile," Tasnim said. "The competent authorities are currently carrying out an investigation to determine the scale of the attack, the exact point of impact and the extent of the potential damage."
Sirens sound in Bahrain
Sirens sounded in Bahrain, the interior ministry said, with an AFP correspondent in Manama hearing an explosion, two weeks into renewed US-Iran hostilities that have seen daily Iranian attacks on the island kingdom.
"The siren has been sounded... Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the ministry said in a statement on X.
Iran's revolutionary guards say they targeted Prince Hassan and King Faisal bases in Jordan, state media reports
More ships change course in the Red Sea after Houthi threats, shipping data shows
Four tankers changed their navigational course in the Red Sea with two signalling the Suez Canal as their new destination after Yemen's Houthi militia warned ships to avoid sailing to Saudi Arabian ports, ship tracking data showed.
The vessels all changed their direction, with the other two signalling their destination as open waters in the Red Sea, according to LSEG and MarineTraffic ship tracking data and analysis from British maritime risk management group Vanguard.
A fifth ship – a vehicle carrier – appeared to have turned away in the Gulf of Aden after signalling the Saudi port of Jeddah as its next destination, according to shipping data.
Iran denies existence of nuclear facility at Kolang mountain
Iran again denied the existence of any secret nuclear complex at Kolang mountain, after US President Donald Trump threatened to strike the site in the centre of the country.
"Washington's obsessive focus on Kolang Kouh where no nuclear activity is taking place is nothing more than a fabricated pretext for aggression, destruction, and sabotage," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on X.
He insisted "Iran's nuclear activities have been fully declared" to the UN's atomic watchdog.
Trump had warned on Tuesday that the US would hit the site, known as Pickaxe Mountain in English.
Israel-Lebanon talks to be held in Italy on August 4
A new round of US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon will be held in Italy on August 4, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
"We will host another session of dialogue on August 4," Tajani told parliament, following a round of talks between delegations from the two countries in Rome last week.
EU aviation agency adds Jordan to no-fly warning list as fighting continues
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency asked airlines not to operate within the airspace of Jordan, as the nation and other US Gulf allies were struck by Iran in the renewed conflict.
"Since the middle of July 2026, the security situation has deteriorated rapidly, with a sustained increase in kinetic military activity affecting Jordanian airspace," EASA said in a statement.
EASA already recommends that airlines avoid the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq and Lebanon.
EU naval force advises ships with US, Israeli or Saudi links to avoid Red sea voyages
Ships with links to Israel, the United States or Saudi Arabia are at a higher risk of being attacked by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia and are advised to avoid voyages through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the European Union's naval force Aspides said.
“EUNAVFOR ASPIDES recommends that merchant vessels linked to Israeli, US or Saudi interests avoid transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until the threat level decreases,” said the force's advisory to the shipping industry which was seen by Reuters.
🎥 Pete Hegseth asks US Senate for 'urgent' Iran war funding increase
The cost of the US military campaign against Iran has already cost 37.5 billion dollars. The figure was revealed by the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as he appeared before the Senate to make the case for the war and ask for an additional 67 billion dollars worth of funding. The move drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.
Details and analysis by the broadcaster international affairs editor, Rochelle Ferguson-Bouyahi.
Brent North Sea crude soars above $95 a barrel on Mideast war
World oil prices soared, with main contract Brent North Sea crude surpassing $95 for the first time in nearly six weeks, as the United States and Iran carried out more strikes.
Brent oil jumped 4.4 percent to $95.02 per barrel and the key US contract, West Texas Intermediate, rallied 4.5 percent to $88.16.
Yesterday's key developments:
• Lebanon's military said that Israeli troops fired near its soldiers deploying in a so-called "pilot zone" that Israel is to withdraw from under a US-backed agreement, with Israel saying it only fired "warning shots".
• US President Donald Trump vowed to help Lebanon with its 'Hezbollah problem' in a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington.
• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the United States' war in Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, as he faces questions from senators over Iran war funding.
(the broadcaster with Reuters, AP and AFP)
