US airstrikes appear to have collapsed a tower at Iran’s Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, a key trade route for Afghanistan, according to images shared by defence secretary Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth shared the image of the surveillance tower appearing to collapse, which had circulated on social media via activists prior to Hegseth sharing it.
Chabahar port has been a repeated target of American airstrikes. Iranian state media acknowledged a third round of strikes on the facility without immediately acknowledging the tower’s collapse.
Iran described the tower as overseeing commercial traffic into the port. However, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also operates at ports across the country.
Armed assailants have boarded a chemical tanker off the southern coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden on Friday and are in control of the vessel.
Maritime security sources told Reuters that the Asana, a small tanker, was seized in the Gulf of Aden on its way to the Somali port of Bosaso.
The ship, which had no confirmed flag, was boarded by unauthorised personnel while transiting 65 nautical miles south of Yemen's Al Mukalla port, the UKMTO said.
US forces hit a bridge and a train station with missiles in a sixth night of airstrikes on Iran on Friday.
Read MoreUS launches Hellfire missiles at tanker headed for Iran’s Kharg Island
Iran targeted by more US strikes while White House says sides are talking
Key Points
- 7 reported dead as US completes latest strikes on Iran
- Iran claims to stop four vessels as US rejects tanker explosion report
- Iran warns Gulf oil exports could be disrupted until US 'aggression' ends
- Jordan intercepts 10 Iranian missiles
UN chief voices concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure
05:55 , Shahana YasminUN secretary-general António Guterres has expressed concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure as fighting between the US and Iran continues to intensify.
A spokesperson for Guterres said he was particularly concerned by “attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and across the region”. His office said the escalating violence risked worsening the humanitarian impact of the conflict.
Iranian media have reported US strikes on power facilities, desalination pumps, bridges and transport infrastructure in southern Iran, while Kuwaiti authorities said an Iranian attack damaged one of the country’s power generation and water desalination stations.
Iran claims to stop four vessels as US rejects tanker explosion report
05:40 , Shahana YasminIran's Revolutionary Guards said they stopped four vessels they accused of violating the country’s navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz during a combined missile and drone operation.
Iranian state media also reported that two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after passing through what it described as a mined route south of the strait. The US military dismissed the report as false and said no such incident had taken place.
The Strait of Hormuz carries around a fifth of the world's oil supply, making it one of the most strategically important shipping routes.
Iran warns Gulf oil exports could be disrupted
05:23 , Shahana YasminIran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that oil and gas exports from the Gulf could be disrupted if US military operations continue.
State television quoted the Guards as saying that until US “aggression” comes to an end, it would not be possible to export chemical fertilisers or even a “single drop of oil and gas” from the region.
Washington earlier this week said it was enforcing a naval blockade around Iran, and Tehran announced fresh operations targeting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.
Kuwait says Iranian attack hit power and desalination station
05:15 , Shahana YasminKuwaiti authorities said an Iranian attack struck one of the country's power generation and water desalination stations on Saturday, causing damage, a fire and disrupting a number of electricity generation units.
Kuwait's armed forces said in a separate post on X that its air defence systems were responding to Iranian drone attacks.
Earlier, Bahrain activated air raid sirens and Saudi Arabia issued temporary public warnings as Iran renewed attacks on Gulf states hosting US military bases following another night of American strikes.
Kuwait intercepts drones as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia issue alerts
05:05 , Shahana YasminSeveral Gulf states issued public alerts early on Saturday as the conflict between the US and Iran continued to spill across the region, with Kuwait intercepting hostile drones and Bahrain and Saudi Arabia warning residents of potential threats.
The Kuwait Armed Forces said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that its air defence systems were responding to “hostile drone threats”, adding that any explosions heard were the result of interceptors engaging incoming targets.
تتصدى حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الكويتية لهجمات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة معادية ، إثر العدوان الإيراني الاثم.
— KUWAIT ARMY - الجيش الكويتي (@KuwaitArmyGHQ) July 18, 2026
تنوه رئاسة الأركان العامة للجيش أن أصوات الانفجارات إن سمعت فهي نتيجة اعتراض منظومات الدفاع الجوي للهجمات المعادية.
يرجى من الجميع التقيد بتعليمات الأمن والسلامة الصادرة عن… pic.twitter.com/6OcgqNmK0C
In separate posts on X, Bahrain’s interior ministry said air raid sirens had been activated and urged residents to seek shelter, while Saudi authorities briefly issued warnings for the Yanbu and Al-Kharj governorates before announcing that the danger had passed.
No casualties or material damage were immediately reported.
US airstrikes on Iran appear to have damaged Gulf of Oman port facility
04:45 , Shahana Yasmin
US airstrikes on Iran appear to have damaged Gulf of Oman port facility
Jordan intercepts 10 Iranian missiles
04:33 , Shahana YasminJordan's armed forces said they intercepted 10 missiles launched from Iran overnight, according to the Jordan News Agency.
The military said there were no casualties or material damage, adding that the interceptions were carried out to protect the kingdom's airspace and sovereignty.
Iran continued retaliatory attacks against US allies following a seventh consecutive night of American strikes on targets inside Iran.
Jordan has repeatedly intercepted Iranian missiles and drones since the conflict escalated, saying it will respond to any projectile that enters its airspace regardless of its intended target.
Iran says missiles hit power and water facilities in Jask
04:17 , Shahana YasminIranian media says several missiles struck power facilities and desalination water pumps in the southeastern port city of Jask, as the conflict continued to spread across critical infrastructure in the region.
The reports, citing a local official, did not immediately provide details on casualties or the extent of the damage. Jask lies on the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz, making it strategically important for Iran's energy and maritime operations.
Meanwhile, Jordan's armed forces said they intercepted 10 missiles launched from Iran, according to the Jordan News Agency.
The strikes came after the US military announced it had completed a seventh consecutive night of attacks on Iran, saying it had targeted surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage facilities and maritime capabilities.
Iran has since launched retaliatory missile attacks on several US allies in the Gulf, including Jordan.
7 reported dead as US completes latest strikes on Iran
04:00 , Shahana YasminThe US military says it has completed its latest wave of strikes on Iran, marking the seventh consecutive night of attacks ordered by president Donald Trump.
Iranian state media reported that at least seven people were killed after US strikes hit bridges in the southern port city of Bandar Khamir.
At least five bridges were reportedly struck, while the city's train station was also hit. An airport in Iranshahr, in Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province, was also reportedly targeted.
In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces used fighter aircraft, drones, warships and other military assets to strike surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage facilities and maritime capabilities.
Pakistan negotiating expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation, sources tell Reuters
03:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPakistan has been negotiating an expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation and investment, according to five sources with knowledge of the talks.
The talks remain at an early stage, all the sources said, and could still be complicated by heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, said one source.
Reuters reported on Thursday that there were mounting concerns in Islamabad that its mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia, signed last year, could draw Pakistan into the US-Iran war. After the Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched an attack on Saudi Arabia on Monday, nuclear-armed Pakistan told Iran it would treat attacks on the kingdom as attacks on itself.
Any defence deal with Kuwait, which has come under heavy attacks from Iran this year, would also raise questions about Pakistan's role in future mediation between the US and Iran.
What remains of the Iran deal as fighting rages
02:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe conflict between Iran and the United States has intensified in recent days and an interim deal to end the fighting has collapsed less than a month after it was signed.
The Memorandum of Understanding was supposed to halt all military operations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil and gas. It also set the stage for further negotiations intended to lead to a permanent peace deal and an agreement on Iran's nuclear program within 60 days.
Here's a look at some of the main clauses of the agreement and the situation on the ground.
What remains of the Iran deal as fighting rages
Beloved Law and Order star shreds Trump over ‘deranged’ post about Iran war
01:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainLaw & Order star Christopher Meloni has mocked Donald Trump’s latest comments on the Iran war, taking aim at the president in a scathing social media post.
The actor, 65, issued his takedown after Trump shared a Truth Social post Tuesday claiming that “oil is flowing like never before” as the U.S. and Iran fight over the Strait of Hormuz following a failed peace deal.
“ChatGTP, write me the most panicked deranged, fantastical tweet you can,” Meloni wrote Wednesday on X, referring to the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT.
Beloved Law and Order star shreds Trump over ‘deranged’ post about Iran war
US strikes expand into northern Iran as it disables ship trying to run blockade
Saturday 18 July 2026 00:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe United States intensified its strikes targeting Iran early Thursday, hitting targets further north as American forces also fired into a ship it accused of trying to break its naval blockade on the Islamic Republic. Iran retaliated with missile and drone fire targeting Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait before dawn.
Days of back-and-forth strikes by the U.S. and Iran across the Middle East — and renewed threats to the Strait of Hormuz — have shredded the interim deal to end the Iran war and could tip the region back into all-out war. Already, Iranian officials say U.S. strikes have killed more than 35 people and wounded over 300 others. Strikes also reached into areas around Iran’s capital, Tehran, for the first time of this latest round of violence.
When the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran effectively closed the strait to shipping traffic, a move that sent the price of oil, fertilizer and many other goods soaring far beyond the region and gave Iran major leverage in negotiations.
US strikes expand into northern Iran as it disables ship trying to run blockade
Three tiny islands help control access to the Strait of Hormuz. They’re once again in the crosshairs of the Iran war
Friday 17 July 2026 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThree strategically vital islands at the mouth of the Persian Gulf have once again become a focal point in the escalating US military campaign against Iran.
Abu Musa, along with Greater and Lesser Tunb, were seized by Iran in 1971 from what would later become the United Arab Emirates. These rocky outposts now serve as a critical Iranian garrison, enabling Tehran to exert considerable influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas transits during peacetime.
Recent US strikes targeting two of these islands have reignited debate and speculation surrounding their future and their long-disputed ownership.
Three tiny islands are once again in the crosshairs of the Iran war
Three tiny islands help control access to the Strait of Hormuz. They’re once again in the crosshairs of the Iran war
Friday 17 July 2026 22:00 , Maira ButtThree strategically vital islands at the mouth of the Persian Gulf have once again become a focal point in the escalating US military campaign against Iran.
Abu Musa, along with Greater and Lesser Tunb, were seized by Iran in 1971 from what would later become the United Arab Emirates. These rocky outposts now serve as a critical Iranian garrison, enabling Tehran to exert considerable influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas transits during peacetime.
Recent US strikes targeting two of these islands have reignited debate and speculation surrounding their future and their long-disputed ownership.
Three tiny islands are once again in the crosshairs of the Iran war
Deadlock in the Strait of Hormuz: Shipping traffic collapses in a week as US and Iran step up attacks
Friday 17 July 2026 21:00 , Maira ButtTraffic through the Strait of Hormuz has come to an almost complete standstill as the US and Iran exchanged strikes for a fourth night this week.
Fighting has broken out over a disagreement about an interim peace deal that proposed Iran manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz along with Oman.
Renewed hostilities began last week after Tehran attacked three commercial vessels in Hormuz for reportedly bypassing Iranian-approved routes to take a shipping lane by the Omani coast instead.
The waters have become a battleground, sending oil prices rocketing once again after weeks of disruptions to global supply.
How Trump’s promise of peace and prosperity in Gaza fell apart in six months
Friday 17 July 2026 20:01 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump described the board of peace for Gaza as the “Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place”. It was the centre of his vision for reconstruction in the war-torn enclave and the backbone of his bid for the Nobel Peace Prize.
When his son-in-law Jared Kushner unveiled the “board of peace master plan” in Davos in January, he presented an elaborate slideshow of a futuristic utopia featuring luxury apartments, more than 100,000 housing units, 75 medical facilities, a data centre and “coastal tourism”.
He painted a vision of a world where water, sewage, hospitals and bakeries would be restored within 100 days and humanitarian and medical aid would flow freely.
How Trump’s promise of peace and prosperity in Gaza fell apart in six months
A former prime minister who led Israel out of Lebanon fears mistakes are being repeated
Friday 17 July 2026 19:00 , Maira ButtIt was just before sunrise when the last columns of Israeli tanks crossed from Lebanon back into Israel and then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who ordered the withdrawal, said the homecoming of Israeli troops sent “shivers down his spine.”
That was May 24, 2000, the day Israel ended its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon.
By then, many Israelis had grown to view the invasion — initially aimed at ousting Palestinian militants — as a strategic failure, akin to the U.S. military quagmire in Vietnam.
Now, 26 years later, Israel is again occupying much of southern Lebanon, and while polling shows that a majority of Israelis currently support an extended military presence in Lebanon, some, including Barak, who remember the pitfalls of the last occupation, are afraid that Israel is falling into the same trap.
“Our very presence will become the only goal,” Barak said in a recent interview, recounting what he said he thought of the occupation in 1985, when he was a general in the Israeli military, and Israel was shifting from active fighting to long-term deployment in Lebanon.
A former prime minister who led Israel out of Lebanon fears mistakes are being repeated
Iranian strike damages a Kuwait desalination plant, exposing water vulnerability in dry Mideast
Friday 17 July 2026 18:00 , Maira ButtIranian 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.
Kuwaiti authorities said the strikes damaged a large number of power generation units and sparked a fire. They added that a fire has been contained, and that they activated emergency contingency plans.
Iranian strike damages a Kuwait desalination plant, exposing water vulnerability in dry Mideast
US military says it destroyed a Iranian port surveillance tower
Friday 17 July 2026 16:03 , Maira ButtThe US military said on Friday that it had 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.
On July 16, U.S. forces successfully destroyed the Chah Bahar Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower, part of a maritime surveillance network along Iran’s Gulf of Oman coastline used for decades by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to track and target commercial… pic.twitter.com/CgBNvgOFf9
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 17, 2026
US airstrikes on Iran appear to have damaged Gulf of Oman port facility
Friday 17 July 2026 15:20 , Maira ButtUS airstrikes Friday appeared to have collapsed a tower at Iran’s Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, a key trade route for Afghanistan.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth shared the image of the surveillance tower appearing to collapse. That image had circulated social media via activists prior to Hegseth sharing it.
Chabahar port has been a repeated target of American airstrikes. Iranian state media acknowledged a third round of strikes on the facility without immediately acknowledging the tower’s collapse.
Iran described the tower as overseeing commercial traffic into the port. However, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also operates at ports across the country.
Pakistan negotiating expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation, sources tell Reuters
Friday 17 July 2026 14:50 , Maira ButtPakistan has been negotiating an expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation and investment, according to five sources with knowledge of the talks.
The talks remain at an early stage, all the sources said, and could still be complicated by heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, said one source.
Reuters reported on Thursday that there were mounting concerns in Islamabad that its mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia, signed last year, could draw Pakistan into the US-Iran war. After the Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched an attack on Saudi Arabia on Monday, nuclear-armed Pakistan told Iran it would treat attacks on the kingdom as attacks on itself.
Any defence deal with Kuwait, which has come under heavy attacks from Iran this year, would also raise questions about Pakistan's role in future mediation between the US and Iran.
Karoline Leavitt says US can hit Iran ‘anytime, anywhere, any place’ in first presser back
Friday 17 July 2026 14:20 , Maira ButtWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hosted her first media briefing since taking maternity leave on Thursday afternoon — hours before President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a national address on election security.
A reporter asked Leavitt to respond to concerns from Republicans that the president’s address on elections could turn off swing voters. “I would encourage everyone to tune in tonight,” Leavitt responded. “I’ve seen a lot of reporting and frankly misreporting about what the president will say.”
Karoline Leavitt said Americans will be “relieved” by President Donald Trump’s address this evening on election security. "I think the American people will be relieved to hear what they are hearing from the president of the United States and his commitment to transparency, and the focus on the integrity of our elections tonight.”
When asked about the Iran war, Karoline Leavitt reiterated that diplomatic discussions are ongoing while stating that the U.S. is well within its rights to continue attacking Iran. “We can hit Iran anytime, anywhere, any place,” she said.
The press secretary told reporters that Donald Trump’s teleprompter operator, who is alleged to have made money by betting on the president’s speeches is on “unpaid administrative leave.” Gabriel Perez — Trump’s teleprompter operator since 2016 — is thought to have made more than $100,000 by betting on the president’s speeches on the prediction platform Kalshi, ABC News reported on Thursday.
Three tiny islands help control access to the Strait of Hormuz. They’re once again in the crosshairs of the Iran war
Friday 17 July 2026 13:50 , Maira ButtThree strategically vital islands at the mouth of the Persian Gulf have once again become a focal point in the escalating US military campaign against Iran.
Abu Musa, along with Greater and Lesser Tunb, were seized by Iran in 1971 from what would later become the United Arab Emirates. These rocky outposts now serve as a critical Iranian garrison, enabling Tehran to exert considerable influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas transits during peacetime.
Recent US strikes targeting two of these islands have reignited debate and speculation surrounding their future and their long-disputed ownership.
Three tiny islands are once again in the crosshairs of the Iran war
Liverpool man charged on suspicion of spying for Iran
Friday 17 July 2026 13:20 , Maira ButtA Liverpool man has been charged on suspicion of spying for Iran after an investigation by counter-terror police.
Vahid Aberi, 39, was arrested on Wednesday in the Birmingham area on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
“The country to which the investigation relates is Iran,” Counter Terrorism Policing London said in a statement.
Aberi was taken to a West Midlands police station and officers searched addresses in Birmingham and Liverpool.
Liverpool man charged on suspicion of spying for Iran
Vessel boarded by unauthorised personnel in Gulf of Aden, UKMTO says
Friday 17 July 2026 12:50 , Maira ButtA vessel was boarded by unauthorised personnel while transiting east in the Gulf of Aden, 65 nautical miles south of Yemen's Al Mukalla port, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Friday.
Separately, a tanker was involved in an incident with military forces about 100 nautical miles east of Oman's Duqm on Thursday, UKMTO said. The tanker was subject to interactions as part of military activity in the region, it added.
Vance says Israel tried to sway US towards military campaign with Iran
Friday 17 July 2026 12:30 , Vishwam SankaranUS vice president JD Vance told podcast host Joe Rogan yesterday that some in the Israeli government attempted to persuade Washington away from a deal to end the war with Iran.
"I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there have been people within the Israeli government who are trying to, like, actually shift us away from that policy because they want to continue the military campaign," Vance said.
The vice president said that while he has "good relationships" with some in the Israeli government, "there are some people within their system that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely".
He alleged that some countries try to influence American policy, adding: "It doesn't bother me that Israel tries to do this; it frankly doesn't even bother me that Russia or some of these other countries do it".
"What does bother me is when those operations, those influence campaigns, actually affect American political judgment," the vice president said.
Kuwait says Iranian attack damages power generation, water desalination station
Friday 17 July 2026 11:50 , Maira ButtOne of Kuwait's power generation and water desalination stations was hit in an Iranian attack, causing damage to facilities, a fire and the disruption of a large number of electricity generation units, Kuwaiti authorities said on Friday.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control, while technical teams began assessing the damage, securing the station and working to restore the affected electricity generation units to service as soon as possible, the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said.
Iran said it launched fresh strikes on US facilities in the Middle East on Friday, including the first direct attack in Syria, after a sixth straight night of US attacks on Iranian military facilities.
Early on Friday, Iran's military said it had attacked US facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.
China, Pakistan call for immediate ceasefire
Friday 17 July 2026 11:30 , Vishwam SankaranChina and Pakistan have called for an immediate ceasefire and a resumption of talks between the US and Iran, China’s foreign ministry said today.
The Chinese foreign minister called on all parties to fulfil their obligations and abide by the ceasefire MoU.
China's statement comes as the US launched a sixth night of strikes on Iran.
Meanwhile, Tehran has reportedly alerted Yemen's Houthis to be ready to disrupt the Red Sea shipping route as well if Iranian power infrastructure is targeted.
Iran threatens 'crushing' retaliation across Middle East, says state media
Friday 17 July 2026 11:15 , Maira ButtIran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has threatened a “more crushing” retaliation against the US and countries hosting its bases on Friday.
It admitted it had targeted the Al Udeid US base in Qatar, according to state media
In video: Qatar intercepts Iranian missiles
Friday 17 July 2026 11:00 , Vishwam SankaranTanker seized off coast of Yemen
Friday 17 July 2026 10:58 , Daniel KeaneArmed assailants have boarded a chemical tanker off the southern coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden on Friday and are in control of the vessel.
Maritime security sources told Reuters that the Asana, a small tanker, was seized in the Gulf of Aden on its way to the Somali port of Bosaso.
The ship, which had no confirmed flag, was boarded by unauthorised personnel while transiting 65 nautical miles south of Yemen's Al Mukalla port, the UKMTO said.
A South Korean warship had been despatched to the area, an official with Greek maritime security company Diaplous said.
Jordan says it intercepted Iranian missiles
Friday 17 July 2026 10:30 , Vishwam SankaranJordanian army said it intercepted and shots down three missiles from Iran.
No casualties or damage has so far been reported, the armed forces said in a statement.
Iran launched fresh attacks on US facilities in the Gulf, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatari capital Doha, following US airstrikes on bridges in southern Iran that killed seven.
The Revolutionary Guards of Iran said they also attacked a US special operations command centre at al-Tanf in Syria.
The latest escalation has nearly halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important shipping route for oil and gas, pushing up global energy prices.
In video: US attacks target civilian infrastructure in Iran
Friday 17 July 2026 09:30 , Vishwam SankaranVance denies claims Kushner benefitted from Iran negotiations are 'bogus'
Friday 17 July 2026 09:00 , Vishwam SankaranUS vice president JD Vance said claims that Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff – the US special envoy to the Middle East – benefited financially from their negotiations with Iran are "completely bogus".
"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," Vance wrote on X.
His post comes after Drop Site News reported yesterday that Iran wrote to the vice president previously to say Kushner and Witkoff were “abusing” their access as negotiators.
“I never received a message like this,” Vance said.
"The idea they're trading on insider information is absurd. I see a lot of BS flying around and I normally just ignore it. But Steve and Jared are good dudes," the vice president said.
In Pictures: US airstrikes in Iran
Friday 17 July 2026 08:30 , Vishwam Sankaran
Iran hits US command centre in Syria
Friday 17 July 2026 08:00 , Vishwam SankaranIran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said today that it attacked a US special operations command centre in Syria.
The attack was in retaliation for the killing of Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr, IRGC said, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Iran said it also targeted US military deployment sites and logistical support centres in Kuwait with drones.
“Relying on history, popular support, experience, and combat readiness, we stand with vigilance and authority against any pressure or threat," Iran's military said, according to Fars news agency.
In video: US launches strikes on Iran for sixth night in a row
Friday 17 July 2026 07:30 , Vishwam SankaranToll from US attacks on bridges in Iran rises to 7
Friday 17 July 2026 06:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe death toll from US attacks on bridges in Iran's Bandar Khamir has risen to seven, Iran's state media said.
US targeted bridges in Iran yesterday as part of its strategy to hit infrastructure across the country.
Seven people were killed following strikes targeting a bridge in Bandar Khamir, a port city in southern Iran, the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences said today.
Fruits of Iran war will be seen 'very shortly', Trump says
Friday 17 July 2026 04:45 , Vishwam SankaranIn his address to the nation on Thursday night, US president Donald Trump said Washington was “winning big in Iran" as the country expanded its airstrike campaign against Tehran today.
The airstrikes targeted bridges in Iran as part of a broader strategy to attack the nation’s infrastructure and pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
"You will see the fruits of that labour very, very shortly," Trump said.
Iranian military warns Trump of attacks on 'all infrastructure'
Friday 17 July 2026 04:15 , Jane DaltonAn Iranian military chief has warned Iran could launch widespread attacks on "all the infrastructure in the region" if the US acted on President Donald Trump 's repeated warnings that America could hit Iranian bridges and power plants.
"Under no circumstances and in no way will we allow America, as a foreign and extraregional country, to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz," said Col Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
"This is Iran's invincible red line."
Why it's so difficult for US to fully reopen Strait of Hormuz
Friday 17 July 2026 03:45 , Jane Dalton
Why it's so difficult for the US to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz
US ends latest round of strikes against Iran
Friday 17 July 2026 03:05 , Rachel DobkinUS Central Command has announced that it ended its latest round of airstrikes against Iran.
“U.S. forces, including fighter jets, aerial drones, and warships, launched precision munitions that hit dozens of Iranian military targets such as coastal surveillance and air defense sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities”, CENTCOM wrote on X.
The sixth consecutive night of strikes ended at 9:40 p.m. ET/1:40 a.m. GMT.
“At the Commander in Chief's direction, CENTCOM is further degrading Iranian military capabilities and holding Iran accountable for recent attacks on commercial shipping”, the US military said. “More than 50,000 U.S. service members are operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready”.
