A sailor was killed and eight others were wounded when two Emirati oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE said on Tuesday, as Tehran stepped up attacks around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said two "offending supertankers" were struck after ignoring warnings, turning off navigation systems and attempting to pass through "a mined route".
Separately, the UKMTO agency said that a tanker had been hit by an unknown projectile while travelling 40 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Qalhat. It was unclear whether they were referring to the same incident as the UAE.
The latest hostilities come after Iran said at the weekend it was closing the Strait, which usually carries a fifth of the world’s oil, casting further doubt on an interim deal to halt the war and driving oil prices higher.
Both Iran and the United States traded strikes for a third consecutive night as Donald Trump reinstated a blockade of Iranian shipping and proposed charging a 20 per cent fee to guard the Strait.
Jordan’s armed forces said they had intercepted and shot down four missiles entering their airspace from Iranian territory.
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Key Points
- What we know about missile strikes on Emirati tankers
- Donald Trump notifies Congress of new war against Iran
- Oil prices hit one month-high as Trump reinstates Iran blockade
- Jordan intercepts missiles from Iran
- US military death toll in Iran war rises to 14
Hormuz cargo fee would be 'fundamentally wrong', says shipping giant
11:15 , James ReynoldsCharging fees for passage through international waters "would be fundamentally wrong", German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd said on Tuesday after Donald Trump said he would reinstate a naval blockade on Iran and charge 20% on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.
The company told Reuters it could not reliably quantify the financial impact of tensions in the Gulf region on its business.
Chemical tanker company says ship hit off Oman
11:15 , James ReynoldsStolt Tankers, which operates the world’s largest fleet of chemical tankers, says that the Stolt Magnesium suffered from an explosion caused by an unidentified external device off the coast of Oman.
They say the ship is experiencing a fire in the engine room as a result of the explosion. All seafarers are safe and accounted for, they say.
Stolt Magnesium is a 165m long Liberia flagged chemical tanker built in 2017.
More explosions recorded
11:10 , James ReynoldsIran’s coastal Bushehr city has been struck by US projectiles, according to Iran’s IRNA news agency.
Residents in Bushehr province and Choghadak have also reported explosions, according to Fars.
Earlier we heard of renewed explosions west of Bandar Abbas, in the south.
The US said earlier it had completed five hours of overnight strikes.
There was no immediate comment from the US.
'Participation trophy' trolling Trump and Iran war appears on National Mall
10:45 , James ReynoldsA giant satirical statue of a participation trophy appeared on Monday on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., mocking the Trump administration’s continued stalemate in the Iran war.
“We hereby award President Donald J. Trump this participation trophy for his enthusiastic involvement in the Iran War,” a plaque on the statue reads. “While some concern themselves with military strategy, diplomacy, or measurable outcomes, President Trump demonstrated the courage to participate regardless of the final score.”
“As the recipient of this prestigious award, President Trump joins the ranks of children everywhere who received recognition for simply showing up,” the plaque continues.
Read the full story:
Mysterious statue trolling Trump and Iran war appears on Washington’s National Mall
Recap: Donald Trump notifies Congress of new war against Iran
10:15 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump formally notified lawmakers over the weekend that the nation is at war with Iran again, giving his administration another 60 days to use the military without congressional approval.
The US president said in a letter to Congress dated 10 July that the renewed strikes since 7 July represent “military action consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States’ interests both at home and abroad”, according to POLITICO.
It come after tensions flared over reported Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, followed by a kinetic US response.
Washington said on Monday it would reimpose its blockade of Iran starting 7pm GMT on Tuesday, covering the entire Iranian coastline including ports and oil terminals. US Centcom later on Monday announced a five hour mission striking targets across the country.
Iran’s IRGC said early on Tuesday that it had targeted a US air base in Jordan with ballistic missiles. Sirens also sounded early on Tuesday in Bahrain, home to another US military base.
ICYMI: Companies backed by Trump sons earn billions in military contracts
09:45 , James ReynoldsPresident Donald Trump’s sons have in recent months become heavily invested in the defense sector, and ventures they back have reportedly earned billions of dollars in government business as the Trump administration looks to massively boost military spending amid the Iran war.
These companies, building technologies ranging from drones to smart factories, have generated at least $3.2 billion in direct government business since Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump became involved, a Washington Post analysis found, while the firms stand to potentially access billions more in future contract options.
The Post estimates that 97 percent of this windfall has come from SpaceX and Anduril, established defense contractors, and 10 of the 15 Trump-linked companies in the analysis were already doing government business prior to the pair’s involvement.
Read the full story:
Trump is boosting defense spending. Companies backed by his sons are earning billions
What we know about missile strikes on Emirati tankers
09:15 , James ReynoldsThe UAE’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that two Emirati oil tankers had been hit by cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz in the latest escalation in the waterway.
One person was killed and eight were injured in the strikes, which the UAE said occurred in the southern lane of the strait while in Omani territorial waters.
Abu Dhabi’s National Oil Company’s shipping arm said the very large crude carriers Mombasa B and Al Bahiyah were struck.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that two "offending" supertankers had been hit and disabled in the Strait of Hormuz after ignoring repeated warnings, turning off navigation systems and attempting to pass through what the Guards described as a mined route.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Tuesday that a tanker had been hit by an unknown projectile while travelling 40 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Qalhat.
It was not immediately clear whether that report referred to the same incident as the one reported by the UAE.
UKMTO said the tanker's master reported that the projectile struck the starboard-side engine room and that all crew were safe.
Commercial tanker hit by missile outside of Strait of Hormuz - UKMTO
08:45 , James ReynoldsA tanker was hit by a missile 13 nautical miles southeast of Oman's Limah, while transiting outbound of the Strait of Hormuz on the southern route, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Tuesday, dating the reported incident to July 13.
Statue trolling Trump and his war with Iran appears on the DC National Mall
08:39 , Alex CroftA giant satirical statue of a participation trophy appeared on Monday on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., mocking the Trump administration’s continued stalemate in the Iran war.
“We hereby award President Donald J. Trump this participation trophy for his enthusiastic involvement in the Iran War,” a plaque on the statue reads. “While some concern themselves with military strategy, diplomacy, or measurable outcomes, President Trump demonstrated the courage to participate regardless of the final score.”
“As the recipient of this prestigious award, President Trump joins the ranks of children everywhere who received recognition for simply showing up,” the plaque continues.
The work, which encourages members of the public to leave their own trophies nearby, comes from Secret Handshake, an anonymous group of artists who have been installing prank statues in Washington throughout the administration.
Smaller trophies were seen scattered around the monument on Monday.
Watch: US military says it used drone boats on Iranian targets in first-of-its-kind attack
08:21 , Alex CroftTrump: There's not a damn thing Iran can do about our strikes
08:03 , Alex CroftSpeaking to the "Hugh Hewitt Show" on Monday, Trump was typically bombastic in his threats towards Iran.
The country would be hit "very hard tonight, and we're going to hit them hard tomorrow,” he said. “And there's not a damn thing they can do about it."
The US has followed up these threats, launching a five-hour barrage strikes across the country in the third consecutive night of attacks.
The latest hostilities come after Iran said at the weekend it was closing the Strait of Hormuz, casting further doubt on an interim deal to halt the war and driving oil prices higher.
"The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE," Trump had said earlier on Monday on Truth Social.
"The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT', but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped."
Iranian oil exports continuing as usual despite resumption of US sanctions, says Tehran
07:47 , Alex CroftIran's oil exports are continuing as usual despite the cancellation last week of a 60-day waiver of US oil sanctions, oil minister Mohsen Paknejad said on his official Telegram account on Tuesday.
Paknejad said the oil ministry had maintained mechanisms for years to neutralise the impact of US sanctions and that Iran's oil exports would face no problems despite the removal of the waivers.
Trump is a toxic ally. His war with Iran is once again spreading across the Gulf
07:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAs the war in Iran spreads again to Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait and Donald Trump announces a 20 per cent toll on all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, it’s time the Gulf states realised the US president is a dangerous ally, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
More here.
Trump is a toxic ally. His war with Iran is once again spreading across the Gulf
Iran executes two men convicted of links to Isis
07:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran executed two men convicted of being members of an Isis-linked militant cell and of armed action against the Islamic Republic, the Iranian judiciary's news outlet Mizan reported this morning.
Mizan said Mohieddin Abdollahi and Hossein Palani were sentenced to death after their convictions were upheld by the Supreme Court, adding that the cell had planned attacks in Iran after operating from the Bamo heights along the Iran-Iraq border.
India summons Iranian envoy over killing of seafarer
07:08 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIndia has summoned Iran's deputy ambassador to lodge a protest after an Indian crew member on board an Emirati tanker was killed in an Iranian airstrike.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said this morning that two "offending" supertankers had been hit and disabled in the strait after ignoring repeated warnings, turning off navigation systems and attempting to pass through what the Guard described as a mined route.
New Delhi over the weekend condemned Iran's attack on another merchant vessel off the coast of Oman with these 11 Indian nationals on board.
At least 10 seafarers were resued while one Indian national went missing following the attack.
Brazil's Lula calls Trump's tariff plans amounts to 'piracy' in Hormuz
06:56 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBrazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has criticised US president Donald Trump's proposal to impose a 20 per cent tariff on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
"President Trump tweeted that he will unblock the Strait of Hormuz. But for every ship unblocked, every ship removed from the strait, the oil owner must pay him 20 per cent," Lula said in Sao Paolo.
"This used to be considered piracy," Lula said. "A major nation like the United States, which I believe has fought against piracy for a long time, cannot now become a pirate," he added.
Oil prices hit one month-high as Trump reinstates Iran blockade
06:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices climbed to their highest level in four weeks after the US reinstated a naval blockade on Iran and announced plans to charge ships a 20 per cent toll on all cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures rose 2.1 per cent to $85.11 a barrel in early Tuesday trading, while West Texas Intermediate, the US crude benchmark, gained 2.3 per cent to $79.91 a barrel, extending gains after Brent surged 9.6 per cent in the previous session – its biggest single-day rise since May 2020.
Prices have now climbed to their highest levels since the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on 17 June aimed at ending the conflict.
More here.
Oil prices hit one month-high as Trump reinstates Iran blockade
Iran rescues bulk carrier crew after collision in Strait of Hormuz
06:35 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran rescued 23 foreign crew members after a bulk carrier collided with another vessel north of Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
The bulk carrier suffered serious damage to its hull and began taking on water, prompting the captain to order an emergency evacuation, Fars said, adding that all crew members were safely transferred to Qeshm Island.
Iran says it targeted US air base in Jordan
06:25 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA US air base in Jordan was targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles on Tuesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement published by Fars News, calling on the Jordanian people to dismantle American bases in their country.
"You know very well that not only do we not have any enmity with your country, but we also love you, the noble people, who understand the pain and oppression of the Palestinian people more than any other nation," the statement said.
Keir Starmer speaks out on Strait of Hormuz attacks as Trump threatens 20% tolls
06:14 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSir Keir Starmer has called for unrestricted transit through the Strait of Hormuz, following Donald Trump’s suggestion of a 20 per cent toll on shipping for safe passage through the vital waterway.
The American president’s controversial proposal comes amidst escalating tensions in the region.
The outgoing British prime minister also urged an immediate end to hostilities and a return to diplomatic negotiations, as the US launched its third consecutive night of strikes against Iran over the contested strategic sea route.
Trump defended his proposed fee on cargo using the Gulf channel as a "matter of fairness" to cover the costs of providing security.
More here.
Keir Starmer speaks out on Strait of Hormuz attacks as Trump threatens 20% tolls
Jordan intercepts missiles from Iran
05:29 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarJordan's armed forces said they have intercepted and downed four missiles in Jordanian airspace that were fired from Iran.
US military death toll in Iran war rises to 14
05:16 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe US military’s official tally of deaths in the Iran war has risen to 14 service members, with the death of a Navy pilot in a helicopter crash in early July in the Arabian Sea.
The number of wounded troops from the conflict also has grown to more than 400 as of Monday. Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command, said the majority of them suffered traumatic brain injuries.
The Navy initially described the 1 July crash as an emergency landing and said there was “no indication the emergency was caused by hostile action.” The remaining three sailors aboard the helicopter were rescued shortly after the mishap.
The Pentagon’s war casualty count added one non-hostile death in July. It is the first death recorded since 13 service members were killed in separate incidents in March at the beginning of the war.
US embassy in UAE cancels consular appointments
05:03 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe US embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate General in Dubai have cancelled consular appointments from 13-15 July due to the regional security situation, the embassy said in a security alert.
The embassy said it remains on ordered departure status and non-emergency US government personnel have been relocated outside the country.
Watch: US says it has completed latest wave of strikes on Iran
05:03 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran says two supertankers hit and disabled in Strait of Hormuz
04:35 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran's Revolutionary Guard this morning said two "offending supertankers" have been hit and disabled in the Strait of Hormuz after the ships ignored warnings, turned off navigation systems and attempted to pass through "a mined route", Iranian media reported, citing a statement from the Guard.
The Guard said the US was "inciting vessels to use an illegal route" and that cooperation with the "aggressor enemy" would result in damage, delays in reopening the strait and a global energy crisis.
Indian crew dead as Iran strikes UAE oil tankers
04:23 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOne Indian crew member was killed and eight others were wounded when two Emirati oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE said this morning.
The UAE's defence ministry said the tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were targeted in the southern lane of the strait while in Omani territorial waters. The dead crew member was aboard the Mombasa, it said.
Of the eight wounded, four were seriously injured. Six of the wounded were Indian nationals and two were Ukrainian nationals, the ministry said.
The attacks caused material damage to both tankers after fires broke out on board. The ministry said the fires had been brought under control. It condemned what it called a "blatant attack" and said the UAE retained "its full right to respond to this escalation".
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said this morning that two "offending" supertankers had been hit and disabled in the Strait of Hormuz after ignoring repeated warnings, turning off navigation systems and attempting to pass through what the Guard described as a mined route.
Iran claims attacks on Bahrain
04:16 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran's Revolutionary Guards said it targeted “several weapons storage depots, a satellite communications centre, and a building housing US forces” at the AlJuffair base in Bahrain.
Air raid sirens were sounded in Bahrain at least three times this morning, urging people to take immediate shelter.
Iran said the missile and drone attacks were part of the second phase of its “retaliation operation”.
US says it has completed latest wave of strikes on Iran
04:05 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe US military said late last night that its forces have completed their latest wave of strikes on Iran.
"During the five-hour mission, US forces successfully struck military targets across Iran, including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas," the US Central Command said in a statement on X.
It said the US troops “employed precision munitions against Iranian coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities”.
Oil climbs to one-month high of $85 a barrel
03:57 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices rose 2 per cent this morning to their highest in four weeks, as the US reimposed its naval blockade of Iran while the two countries stepped up attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, heightening uncertainty about energy flows.
Brent crude futures climbed $1.68, or 2 per cent, to $84.98 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.65, or 2.1 per cent, to $79.79 a barrel. Brent crude surged 9.6 per cent in the previous session, its biggest daily gain since May 2020.
Oil prices are now at their highest since the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war on 17 June.
US uses sea drones against Iran for first time
03:00 , Alex CroftThe US military has said that it used one-way attack sea drones in Iran for the first time.
In an update on Monday morning, US Central Command said it had struck “dozens of targets at multiple locations with precision munitions” as they sought to degrade Tehran’s ability to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
“CENTCOM forces struck Iranian military air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats using US fighter aircraft, naval vessels, one-way attack aerial drones, and one-way attack sea drones for the first time,” it added.
Oil prices jump after US and Iran escalate strikes in the Middle East
02:01 , Alex CroftShare markets slipped in Asia on Monday as fighting intensified in the Gulf and Iran claimed to have closed the vital Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices surging and rekindling inflation risks globally.
Brent crude climbed 3.3 per cent in early trade to reach $78.50 a barrel, up from the recent trough of $70.14, while US crude added 3.4 per cent to $73.83 a barrel. US officials said around 20 vessels had been escorted through the strait in the previous 24 hours, though ship tracking sites showed little traffic moving.
Over the weekend, Tehran extended strikes on Qatar and the United Arab Emirates while the US launched further strikes on Iran, the latest in a cycle of attacks and counter-attacks over shipping through the strait.
Oil prices jump after US and Iran escalate strikes in the Middle East
Iranian attacks kill oil tanker crew member and trigger missile sirens in Bahrain
02:00 , Josh MarcusEarly information is trickling out about alleged Iranian retaliation to recent U.S. strikes.
In Bahrain, missile alerts sounded because of strikes from Tehran, the Associated Press reported early Tuesday local time.
An adviser to Bahrain’s king said on social media that the kingdom’s air defenses intercepted and destroyed multiple inbound Iranian attacks.
Separate Iranian strikes killed one crew member and wounded eight others on a pair of Emirati oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the defense ministry of the United Arab Emirates said early Tuesday.
The U.A.E. condemned what it called the "blatant attack" and insisted the country retained its “full right to respond to this escalation.”
The strike itself occurred in waters off Oman, Reuters reports.
Pictured: US military releases image of strike on Iran
01:01 , Alex Croft
Recap: Iran says it will not allow US to intervene Strait of Hormuz
Tuesday 14 July 2026 00:00 , Alex CroftIran will not allow the US to intervene in the management of the Strait of Hormuz, the country's top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, has said.
Any attempt by the US army to arrange transit through the strait outside the paths designated by Tehran and without coordination with Iran's armed forces will be strongly resisted, it added in a statement on social media.
Trump hints at attack plans and claims a new Iran deal was nearly reached in press conference
Monday 13 July 2026 23:34 , Josh MarcusPresident Trump made a number of notable claims today about the Iran war while speaking with reporters at the White House.
He briefly claimed that the U.S. and Iran had a renewed deal of some kind “two days ago,” which he said failed because Tehran sought to “negotiate it further.” Iran has not disclosed any such deal was near.
Trump also said renewed U.S. strikes will eventually take out what’s known as Pickaxe Mountain, a buried Iranian nuclear facility.
“Tell the Iranians we're coming,” the Republican said.
The president has previously claimed U.S. strikes had all but destroyed Iran’s nuclear capacity.
Elsewhere, the president defended the timeline of the war.
“Well, we were in Vietnam for 19 years,” he said. “We're here for four months.”
Trump claims Gulf nations will pay his 20 percent fee on Strait of Hormuz shipping
Monday 13 July 2026 23:28 , Josh MarcusPresident Donald Trump claimed on Monday that Gulf nations will shoulder the cost of his recently proposed 20 percent levy on shipping traffic through the contested Strait of Hormuz.
“We're protecting a very rich portion of the world,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. “We’re spending money and so what we’ve done is we’re going to be reimbursed for protection.”
The Republican named Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait as among the nations that might have to pay up.
Iran has vowed to contest any attempt by the U.S. to control shipping through the strait.
“Any attempt by the US army to arrange transit through the strait outside the paths designated by Tehran and without coordination with Iran’s armed forces will be strongly resisted,” the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces said on social media.
More context on the fate of the Strait in our full story:
Trump asks ships to pay 20% toll in Strait of Hormuz and reimposes US blockade
Trump slams Iran for 'breaking' peace deal but insists truce still possible
Monday 13 July 2026 23:10 , Josh Marcus
President Donald Trump continues to insist a peace deal with Iran is possible, even as he accuses Tehran of breaking the previous truce.
“Yeah I think a deal is possible, sure,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday as he described a fresh wave of U.S. strikes against Iranian targets.
The Republican has alternatively claimed in recent days that Iran is both hungry for a deal and has not been faithful to the previous one.
“They made a deal,” Trump added on Monday. “They broke it. Probably 10 times.”
US describes fresh round of strikes aimed at exacting 'heavy cost'
Monday 13 July 2026 23:04 , Josh MarcusThe U.S. military is launching another round of strikes at Iran, as the conflict between the two nations continues to reignite.
“These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” U.S. Central Command said on social media on Monday.
“We’re hitting ‘em very heavy tonight,” President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House.
The strikes, he said, are aimed at “knocking out all of their offensive capabilities.”
President Trump has previously said Iran’s military was all but destroyed.
