Iran war latest news- July 18
- The US carried out a seventh straight day of airstrikes on Friday, targeting bridges, rail links, ports and transport infrastructure across Iran.
- Attacks reportedly damaged a railway station near the Bandar Abbas naval base and destroyed a control tower at Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman.
- Iran’s state media also reported strikes on Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Ahvaz, Lar, Darab and the outskirts of Yazd overnight.
- Explosions were heard in Sirik, a strategic port city on the Strait of Hormuz that hosts Iranian naval facilities.
- Fresh strikes also hit the Shahid Mirzaei Tunnel and at least two bridges in Hormozgan province, forcing the tunnel to close in both directions.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of killing civilians, including a child, in a bridge attack near Bandar Khamir.
- Trump has threatened to expand attacks to more civilian infrastructure unless Iran agrees to a deal, raising concerns over possible war crimes.
- Iran said it retaliated by targeting countries hosting US military facilities, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
- Iran’s navy claimed it carried out drone and missile operations against four ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz with US support.
- Brent crude rose about 1.5% to around $85-$86 per barrel as renewed fighting disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
US launches seventh straight day of airstrikes
US Central Command said it carried out another round of strikes to further degrade Iran's military capabilities, marking the seventh consecutive day of attacks.
Two tankers catch fire in mined Strait of Hormuz
Two oil tankers caught fire after sailing through a mined route in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC claimed the waterway is now "highly unsafe" and "completely closed," though the US has not confirmed the incident.
Iran-US war LIVE: Oil heads for weekly gain on renewed US-Iran hostilities
Oil prices on Friday rose by 3% after the US and Iran stepped up attacks across the Gulf, with shipping threatened by a potential Red Sea closure on top of the restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures rose by $2.49, or 2.96%, to $86.72 a barrel by 11:50 a.m. ET (1550 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were up $2.48, or 3.14%, at $81.43.
Iran-US war LIVE: World stocks fall in semiconductor rout; oil rises on Middle East escalation
Share indexes tumbled around the world on Friday, as heavyweight chip stocks plunged for a third consecutive day as investors reduced bets on artificial intelligence, with China's Moonshot releasing a large AI system. Meanwhile oil prices rose as the United States and Iran expanded their attacks to hit key infrastructure. The United States struck bridges and an airport in Iran, and Tehran responded by hitting a power and desalination plant in Kuwait.
Iran-US war LIVE: Copper falls as Middle East war weighs on demand outlook
Copper prices fell on Friday as escalating tensions in the Middle East spurred inflation concerns and cast a shadow over the demand outlook for the metal. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.6% at $13,515.50 a metric ton as of 1600 GMT, having earlier dipped as much as 1.6%, and on course to eke out a weekly gain of 0.2%.
Iran-US war LIVE: Regional escalation fears deepen after US hits Iranian bridges
The United States struck bridges and an airport in Iran on Friday, provoking Tehran to respond by hitting a power and desalination plant in Kuwait, as the warring foes risked further escalation by expanding their targets to include infrastructure.
Iran-US war LIVE: KRG demands immediate end to Iran's regional escalation
Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has demanded an immediate end to the escalation, according to a statement issued by the office of its administrative leadership.
Iran-US war LIVE: CENTCOM confirms no US troops killed, captured in recent regional incidents
US military has denied Iranian claims that American soldiers were killed at the Al-Tanf base on the Syria-Jordan border, calling the reports entirely false in a statement released on X.
Iran-US war LIVE: US military destroys Iranian port surveillance tower in targeted strike
The US military on Friday said that it destroyed the Chabahar Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower in Iran on Thursday. US Central Command said in a post on X that the tower was part of a maritime surveillance network along Iran's Gulf of Oman coastline used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to track and target commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran-US war LIVE: UK declares IRGC national security threat
The UK has designated the IRGC and another Iran-linked group, the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR), as threats to national security.
Iran-US war LIVE: Kuwait desalination plant damaged in Iranian strike
Iranian strikes on Friday hit a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait, damaging one of the key sources of drinking water in the small desert nation. It's the latest attack on essential infrastructure across the Middle East that have exposed extreme vulnerabilities in one of the world's driest regions, which relies almost exclusively on technology to produce freshwater that sustains cities, hotels, industry and some agriculture.
Iran-US war LIVE: Brent Crude climbed to $86.7 per barrel
Brent crude climbed to around $86.7 per barrel, hovering near its highest level in a month after a brief pullback in the previous session, as investors continued to monitor the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.
Iran-US war LIVE: British police arrests man for allegedly assisting Iran's intelligence service
British police charged a 39-year-old man on Friday under the UK's National Security laws for allegedly assisting Iran's intelligence service.
The Metropolitan Police identified the accused as Vahid Aberi, from Liverpool in northern England. He was taken to a police station in central England following his arrest, while officers also carried out searches at properties in Birmingham and Liverpool.
UK security agencies have repeatedly warned that Iran has used criminal proxies to conduct hostile activities on British soil.
Iran-US war LIVE: Vance rejects reports of Kushner, Witkoff profiting from US-Iran talks
US Vice President JD Vance has dismissed as "completely bogus" a media report claiming that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff attempted to profit from insider information during US-Iran negotiations. Vance also denied receiving any alleged warning from Tehran about the two senior members of President Donald Trump's team.
The report, which Vance shared while rejecting its claims, alleged that Iran had estimated nearly USD 9 billion in profits from alleged "market manipulation" by individuals close to Trump, chiefly Kushner and Witkoff. It further claimed that Tehran had formally sought USD 4.5 billion of the purported gains to be transferred to Iran through intermediaries.
Iran-US war LIVE: Kuwait condemns Iranian missile and drone attacks
Kuwait has condemned what it called "heinous Iranian aggression" after missiles and drones struck one of its power stations and a water desalination plant.
In a statement, Kuwait's foreign ministry described the attacks as a "flagrant violation" of the country's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, as well as a serious breach of international and humanitarian law.
The ministry warned that the attacks marked a dangerous escalation that threatened regional security and stability, undermined efforts to reduce tensions and challenged international law.
It also said Kuwait has the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and stability in line with international law.
Iran-US war LIVE: Armed group boards tanker off Yemen
A chemical tanker was boarded by an armed group while sailing through the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen on Friday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The incident took place south of Yemen's Al Mukalla province. UKMTO said the vessel was boarded by "unauthorised personnel."
British maritime security firm Ambrey said Somali pirates were believed to be behind the attack. The tanker, identified as the Tanzania-flagged Asana, was travelling to Bosaso in Somalia and did not have an armed security team on board. A South Korean naval vessel was sent to assist after the ship issued a distress call.
The attack is the latest security incident in the Gulf of Aden, where Somali pirate activity has increased in recent weeks. Earlier this month, suspected pirates attacked another vessel near Yemen, causing minor damage.
Iran-US war LIVE: Iraq's Kurdistan region condemns attacks
The presidency of Iraq's Kurdistan region has condemned the recent attacks, calling them a serious threat to the country's stability.
In a statement posted on X, it said the attacks on the Kurdistan region were a "grave betrayal" of Iraq's leadership.
The statement added that the violence was undermining Iraq's stability and creating obstacles to efforts aimed at achieving peace in the region.
Iran-US war LIVE: Oil prices rise as US-Iran tensions escalate
Oil prices climbed about 2% on Friday as tensions between the United States and Iran intensified with both sides exchanging attacks across the Gulf.
Concerns over possible disruptions to shipping in the Red Sea, along with already restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, pushed crude prices higher.
Brent crude futures rose $1.53, or 1.82%, to $85.76 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $1.69, or 2.14%, to $80.64.
Both oil benchmarks have risen nearly 13% this week. Brent is on course for a third straight weekly gain, while WTI is set to record its second consecutive weekly increase.
Iran-US war LIVE: Israeli drone attacks kill three in Gaza
At least three people were killed and 17 others were injured in Israeli drone attacks across Gaza on Friday, according to medical sources.
The sources told Al Jazeera Arabic that the strikes began at dawn and hit multiple areas across the enclave.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the reported attacks.
Iran-US war LIVE: Iran says US strike hit civilian maritime facility
Iran has accused the United States of destroying a civilian maritime traffic control tower on the Makran coast in what it called a "heinous attack."
According to Iran's Tasnim news agency, the government said US forces fired three missiles at what it described as a completely civilian facility. Tehran claimed the strike affected the livelihoods of fishermen and threatened the safety of civilian shipping in the area.
Iran also criticised Washington, saying the attack on what it called vital civilian infrastructure showed the US was ignoring international agreements while applying double standards.
Iran-US war LIVE: Israeli drone strike kills one in Gaza
At least one person was killed in an Israeli drone strike in northern Gaza on Friday.
The attack took place in the city of Beit Lahia, according to a source at Al-Shifa Hospital, who spoke to Al Jazeera Arabic.
There were no immediate details on the identity of the victim or whether others were injured.
Iran-US war LIVE: Araghchi accuses Israel of influencing US
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused Israel of trying to influence US politics and foreign policy.
In a post on X, Araghchi questioned warnings about foreign influence in the US and alleged that Israel was trying to push the US into what he called an "unwinnable war."
He referred to a Time magazine report that said Brad Parscale, former campaign manager for US President Donald Trump, was involved in an Israeli influence campaign aimed at supporters of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
Araghchi also claimed that Israel was using US taxpayer money to silence its critics in America. "It will all soon unravel," he wrote.
Iran-US war LIVE: Iran claims strike on US base in Qatar
Iran said it carried out its 15th wave of attacks by targeting the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
In a statement, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the attack destroyed a long-range radar system and several US military refuelling aircraft, according to Iran's state-run IRIB news agency.
The IRGC also warned that any further attacks on Iran or its civilian infrastructure would lead to a stronger response. It said countries hosting US military bases in the region should be aware of the consequences, adding that if such actions continue, Iran will launch more powerful attacks.
A group of unidentified armed men is believed to have taken control of a chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen on Friday, according to a Reuters report citing maritime security sources.
The vessel, named Asana, was sailing off Yemen's southern coast when the incident took place. The tanker does not have a confirmed national flag. Ship tracking data showed that it was heading towards Bosaso, a port city in Somalia.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British naval agency that monitors shipping security, said a vessel had been boarded by unauthorised people while travelling east through the Gulf of Aden. The incident happened about 65 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla, a port city on Yemen's southern coast.
Authorities have not yet identified the attackers or shared further details about the situation.
Iran-US war LIVE: Iran strikes eastern Syria, in first such attack during current war
Iran on Friday struck eastern Syria, Reuters reported Iranian state media and a Syrian military source as saying. It is reportedly said that it is the first known attack by Tehran on Syrian territory since a regional war erupted earlier this year.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had attacked a US special operations command centre at al-Tanf in Syria in retaliation for the killing of Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr, state media reported. However, Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the claim.
Iran-US war LIVE: Iran media denies prisoner exchange, says 'no evidence' of any 'spy release'
Iranian state media Press TV has reported that there is "no evidence" to support claims of a prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States, rejecting assertions that any American detainee or alleged spy had been released by Tehran in recent days. According to Press TV, its investigations "found no evidence to support claims of a prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States." It also said that no spy has been released by Iran in recent days.
Iranians suffer new uncertainty and anxiety as US steps up attacks
A new wave of US attacks has plunged Iranians back into deep uncertainty and anxiety after a period of relative calm as the shaky ceasefire held. Iranians contacted by Reuters via an encrypted messaging app said economic problems were mounting and they were consumed by worries over what will happen next.
A photographer in Tehran shared a photograph of her weekly grocery shopping with the publication to highlight how pre-war prices had almost doubled.
"The most important thing overall in the middle of the war is the economy. Every day our situation is worse and more difficult. The thing that's the most stressful is the back and forth: one day it's war, the next it's peace. We don't know what's actually going to happen. We can't even make plans for two days in the future," she said.
JD Vance rejects report alleging Kushner, Witkoff profited from Iran talks
US Vice President JD Vance has dismissed a media report claiming senior White House advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff sought to profit financially from their roles in US-Iran negotiations. Vance insisted he had never received such as private message from Iran, as alleged in the report.
The remarks came in response to a report that alleged Iran had calculated "$9 billion" in profits from "market manipulation" by "individuals close to President Donald Trump" --- mainly Kushner and Witkoff. It added that Tehran had formally requested that "$4.5 billion" of that sum be allocated to Iran through intermediaries. The report claimed that the source of the news was a senior Iranian official's update to the 'Drop Site' news site.
"This is completely bogus. I never received a message like this. If I had, I would have said: Jared and Steve are trusted members of the president's team and very dear friends. No one has done more than the two of them to work towards peace and prosperity in the region. The idea they're trading on insider information is absurd," Vance wrote on X.
Iran targets US fighter jets in Jordan
According to Iranian state TV, the Revolutionary Guards Corps has claimed an attack against Jordan targeting US fighter jets stationed in the country.
Suspected Iranian attack kills 9 in Iraq: Report
According to an AP report citing local officials, a suspected attack by Iran on an Iranian Kurdish dissident group in northern Iraq has killed at least 9 people.