Iran-US war latest: Tankers involved in ‘accident’ in Strait of Hormuz after following American route, Tehran claims

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Sunday that two ⁠ships had ignored warnings and tried to navigate ⁠the ​Strait ⁠via an “unsafe route”, ⁠while two other ​vessels ⁠abandoned that ‌route, the semi-official Tasnim news agency ‌reported.

“Vessels that are influenced by the words of ‌the Americans and enter ​unsafe ‌routes will ⁠certainly face accidents,” ⁠the Guards warned in ‌a ​statement.

It comes as the US launched fresh airstrikes on Iran after two American service members were killed in an Iranian drone and missile attack on a base in Jordan.

US Central Command said the operation late on Saturday was intended to “swiftly punish” the IRGC.

Iran earlier said it was suspending its commitments under an initial peace agreement with the US, accusing Washington of violating the deal through its continued military campaign.

In a statement attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei and broadcast on state television, Iran’s supreme leader declared Trump’s signature on the accord “worthless and invalid” and warned the US of “unforgettable lessons” if it continued attacking the Islamic Republic.

Trump urges Republicans to ‘add Iran’ to Russian sanctions bill⁠US President ​Donald ⁠Trump has urged ‌Republicans ‌to ‌add ⁠Iran ‌to ​the ‌Russian ⁠sanctions bill.

In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “Republicans should add Iran to the Russian Sanctions Bill.”

Referencing the recent sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham he added: “That’s what Lindsey wanted to do, and it was going to happen. IMPORTANT!!!”.

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 July 2026 13:14

Beyond the Strait of Hormuz: How Gulf countries are preparing for life without the waterwayThe US and Iran continue tit-for-tat strikes over the vital shipping route while a fifth of the world’s oil supply remains at a standstill. But Gulf countries have been looking towards alternatives for a more independent future, Maira Butt reports.

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 July 2026 13:00

Jordan has not ordered evacuation of Aqaba airport or seaport, gov’t spokesperson says Jordanian authorities have not issued any decision on Sunday to ⁠evacuate the airport or seaport in Aqaba, the government’s spokesperson told Reuters, after the US embassy in Amman said they had been ⁠evacuated due to ​a credible ⁠threat.

“No potential threats have been recorded by the relevant Jordanian authorities ⁠in the past few hours,” government spokesperson ​Mohammad ⁠Al-Momani told Reuters in ‌a written statement. “The airport and port are operating normally.”

The US embassy had said ‌the airport and seaport ‌were evacuated due to a “specific and credible threat”, without providing further details.

It advised Americans to refrain ⁠from travelling to either location and to continue to follow all security directives issued by Jordanian authorities.

The US military said on Saturday that two of its personnel were killed in Jordan and another was ‌missing after an Iranian attack.

Over the ​last week, Jordan has repeatedly ‌said that it ⁠has intercepted Iranian missiles flying over its ⁠territory.

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 July 2026 12:45

Watch: Vance says some Israeli leaders want conflict with Iran to continue ‘indefinitely’Vance says some Israeli leaders want conflict with Iran to continue ‘indefinitely’Nicole Wootton-Cane19 July 2026 12:30

Iran executes two men convicted of killing police officers during January protests, Mizan reportsIran has executed two ⁠men convicted of killing four police officers ⁠during ​violent ⁠unrest in the ⁠central city ​of Isfahan ⁠in ‌January, judiciary-linked news outlet Mizan ‌reported on ‌Sunday.

Mizan identified the ⁠men as Erfan Esfandiyari and Golmohammad Mohammadi, adding that their death ‌sentences were carried ​out ‌on Sunday ⁠after ⁠a court process.

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 July 2026 12:00

Airport and seaport in Jordan evacuated due to ‘credible threat’, US embassy saysThe international airport and ⁠seaport in Aqaba in southern Jordan has been evacuated because of ⁠a “specific and credible ​threat”, ⁠the US embassy said on ⁠X on Sunday.

“We ​strongly ⁠advise all ‌Americans to refrain (from) travelling to either the ‌airport or seaport. ‌Continue to follow all Jordanian authorities’ security ⁠directives,” the embassy said, without providing further details.

Jordanian authorities have not yet released a statement on the ‌matter and the ​Jordanian information ‌minister did ⁠not respond immediately to ⁠a request for comment.

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 July 2026 11:12

Two US backed ships involved in ‘accident’ while traversing Strait of Hormuz, Iran says Tehran has said two “US-backed” ships were involved in an “accident” after after attempting to transit ⁠the ​Strait ⁠of Hormuz.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that two ⁠ships were involved in an “accident” after attempting to navigate ⁠the ​Strait ⁠ via an “unsafe route”, ⁠while two other ​vessels ⁠abandoned that ‌route, the semi-official Tasnim news agency ‌reported.

The Guards said ‌the four vessels had ignored ⁠Iranian warnings and acted with US backing.

“Vessels that are influenced by the words of ‌the Americans and enter ​unsafe ‌routes will ⁠certainly face accidents,” ⁠the Guards warned in ‌a ​statement.

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 July 2026 11:01

Recap: Two US service members killed by Iranian attacks in Jordan, military saysAt least two US service members were killed in action while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan, marking the first American deaths in the aftermath of a tenuous ceasefire agreement earlier this year, according to US Central Command.

Another service member is missing after Friday’s attacks, according to the Department of Defense.

Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged, Central Command announced Saturday.

You can read the full report below:

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 July 2026 11:00

Bahrain reports intercepting Iranian attackBahrain’s air defence systems have blocked an Iranian attack this morning, according to reports on the country’s state TV.

It comes after Iran has stepped up strikes on US allies in the region, including Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Nicole Wootton-Cane19 July 2026 10:17

Lebanon’s Aoun to meet Trump at White HouseLebanese President Joseph Aoun will make his first trip to the White House this week to present a plan to US President Donald Trump on how to disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and secure Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.

President Aoun, who served as the commander of Lebanon’s US-backed army before being elected president last year, is the first Lebanese head of ⁠state in nearly 20 years to visit the White House, where he will meet Trump face-to-face for the first time.

Tuesday’s meeting comes at a crucial moment for Lebanon: Israeli troops are occupying a swathe of the country’s south, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese remain displaced following Israeli strikes and Hezbollah has firmly rejected the government’s direct talks with Israel — and efforts by the state to strip it of its arms. In comments published by his office last week, Aoun said he would ask Trump to “exert the necessary pressure on Israel” to implement a U.S.-brokered June 26 agreement ⁠between Lebanon and Israel. That deal aims to disarm Hezbollah, see a progressive Israeli troop withdrawal and ​set ⁠the stage for peaceful ties between the two countries.

A Lebanese official said Aoun would present Trump with a written proposal on how to decommission Hezbollah’s massive arsenal. The official said Aoun believes only Trump possesses the leverage needed to pressure Israel to withdraw its troops and help Lebanon restore its sovereignty.

President Joseph Aoun will meet Trump in the US (Reuters)Nicole Wootton-Cane19 July 2026 09:30