Live: Iran War LIVE: Rubio tours Gulf capitals as Trump seeks $88 billion from Congress for conflict costs

Iran-backed Hezbollah on Thursday levelled a 'flagrant' ceasefire violation charge against Israel, asserting that an Israeli drone strike took the lives of three civilians in southern Lebanon. The group described the assault as a 'direct' attack on 'civilians,' even as Israel had earlier maintained that those killed were armed members of Hezbollah's fighting ranks. Hezbollah said this amounted to the third 'flagrant violation' by Israel of a ceasefire agreement that Israel itself had pledged to honour.

Israeli forces hit a vehicle with a drone strike in southern Lebanon on Thursday, killing three people, according to Lebanese state media. The Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah members in two separate incidents in the south. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that an enemy drone hit a vehicle travelling the road between Zawtar and Mayfadoun, leaving three people dead and one wounded. This was the third fatal episode since Tuesday, taking the total number of people killed in Israeli strikes during the week to at least seven. The Israeli army later said its troops had spotted five Hezbollah operatives in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah who posed a direct threat to their safety.

Two American officials, who agreed to speak only without being identified, disclosed to Reuters that Iran had opened fire on a cargo ship in the process of making passage through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. The vessel had earlier sent word that it had been struck by a projectile. British naval authority UKMTO reported that the ship sustained the hit on its starboard side, at a position 7.5 nautical miles to the southeast of Oman's port of Dahit.

After a vessel came under attack in the Gulf of Oman, the United Nations' maritime authority announced on Thursday a temporary suspension of its drive to shepherd hundreds of stuck ships and thousands of crew members safely out through the Strait of Hormuz. "Today I received word of an assault in the Gulf of Oman on a ship that had made its passage through the Strait of Hormuz. That vessel was not travelling under IMO's evacuation framework," said Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization (IMO), in a formal statement. "I have opted to place a temporary hold on its execution, so as to reconfirm that the indispensable safety guarantees remain active for vessels on our evacuation roster and for all other ships currently present in that area."

A cargo vessel sustained damage after being struck by an unidentified object near Oman in the Strait of Hormuz today, according to a British maritime agency, which confirmed there were no casualties. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated the incident took place 7.5 nautical miles (14 km) southeast of Dahit in Oman's Musandam exclave. UKMTO reported that the vessel was hit on its starboard side, damaging the bridge. The master confirmed that no personnel were injured and there was no environmental damage. British security firm Vanguard Tech identified the vessel as the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced that Iran and Oman will engage in talks to establish future administrative and maritime service protocols for the Strait of Hormuz, following a joint declaration in Muscat. In a post on X, Araghchi described a productive conversation with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, emphasizing both nations' commitment to pursuing discussions with regional neighbors. Oman informed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gulf Arab ministers on Thursday that future arrangements for the Strait would not include any transit tolls.

The International Monetary Fund reported that energy and commodity prices have declined since the U.S.-Iran agreement to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though it noted that market and trade normalization remains a gradual process. IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack stated that the Fund will evaluate whether to maintain the three growth scenarios presented in April, which were based on various outcomes of the Iran conflict, in the upcoming July 8 World Economic Outlook update. Kozack previously noted that when the Strait remained closed in May, driving benchmark oil prices above $100 per barrel, the global economy shifted from a baseline forecast of a quick resolution toward an 'adverse scenario' projecting 2.5% global growth for 2025.

Israel declared it will only pull its forces from southern Lebanon once Hezbollah is fully disarmed, as the two nations participate in U.S.-mediated negotiations in Washington. Government spokesperson David Mencer stated during a briefing that Israel will not withdraw as long as Hezbollah remains a threat and has not been demilitarized. Regarding the Washington talks, Mencer emphasized that Israel's primary responsibility is its citizens' security, stating no terrorist forces will be permitted near its border. He reiterated that any redeployment of IDF forces will occur strictly after the demilitarization of southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah. He recalled that Hezbollah was supposed to have been disarmed in 2024, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

Three people were killed today in an Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese state media, despite an ongoing lull in clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon's National News Agency reported that an 'enemy drone' targeted a vehicle on the road between Zawtar and Mayfadoun, resulting in three fatalities and one injury. This marks the third deadly incident since Tuesday, June 23, 2026, bringing the total death toll from Israeli attacks this week to seven. The strike coincides with the fifth round of direct negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli officials in Washington.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated there is zero support among Gulf nations for imposing tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that they share other significant concerns as he concluded his West Asia trip following the interim U.S.-Iran deal.

Esmaeil Qaani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, stated today via state media that Israel must unilaterally withdraw from all Lebanese territory or face a humiliating defeat. Last week, the U.S. and Iran reached an interim agreement ending hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, pledging to uphold the nation's sovereignty. Tehran maintains that this agreement necessitates the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.

Oman's top diplomat affirmed today that no transit fees will be imposed in the Strait of Hormuz, following earlier reports that Muscat and Tehran were discussing service 'costs.' During a meeting in Manama with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gulf foreign ministers, Badr Albusaidi stated that future arrangements for the waterway do not entail any transit fees, aligning with the U.S. administration's consistent opposition to such charges.

Pakistan stated that negotiations between Iran and the U.S. are expected to resume next week. In a statement released late Wednesday, June 24, 2026, foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi noted that the process remains ongoing. 'Discussions are continuing. I expect them to resume next week, likely on Tuesday. This is a temporary pause, not a breakdown,' Andrabi noted. The announcement of the expected resumption of talks signals potential progress toward a final peace agreement.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Thursday, June 25, 2026, that a potential deal with Iran will not be pursued at any cost, aiming to reassure Gulf allies that their security remains a priority. Addressing a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Bahrain, Rubio stated, 'We want a deal, but not at any price.' 'We must ensure that no part of this agreement undermines the security, stability, or prosperity of our partners in the Gulf,' he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured Gulf Arab allies on Thursday, June 25, 2026, that their interests will be central to any agreement with Iran, as he concluded a West Asian trip aimed at addressing regional skepticism regarding the Trump administration's preliminary accord. Speaking at a meeting in Bahrain—base to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet—Rubio reiterated that Washington is pursuing enduring peace with Iran without compromising the security or prosperity of its regional partners, many of whom remain wary following wartime attacks.

Sources familiar with Iraq's oil policy told Reuters that Baghdad may consider options, including exiting OPEC, if its production quota is not significantly increased. Such a move would deal a significant blow to the group following the United Arab Emirates' departure earlier this year. As a founding member currently facing a financial crisis due to the war with Iran, a senior Iraqi oil official emphasized that a quota increase is critical. While the current plan is to remain in the group, the official warned that Saudi Arabia and other allies must address this issue seriously, or Iraq will be compelled to explore all options, though a formal exit remains premature.

Senior Israeli and Lebanese officials refuted claims on Thursday, June 25, 2026, that Israeli forces had withdrawn from occupied southern Lebanon, despite a U.S. official's statement that a pullback had occurred as a goodwill gesture. While the State Department official described the retreat as a concrete sign of good faith, a senior Israeli defense official insisted that military policy remains unchanged and troops will remain in the 'buffer zone.' A senior Lebanese military official countered the U.S. account, noting that developments on the ground show the opposite of a withdrawal, with Israeli forces continuing to block access to the area for the Lebanese Army.

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani welcomed Oman’s announcement regarding a secure corridor for vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Al Zayani made these remarks while chairing a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting during the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sounded a sharp alarm on Thursday (June 25, 2026), saying that any Iranian move to impose transit levies on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz risked setting off a chain reaction across international waterways worldwide, potentially unleashing 'total chaos'. Speaking at a Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Bahrain, Rubio stressed that no sovereign country holds ownership over international shipping routes — a precept he called foundational to the current global order. 'International waterways do not belong to any nation state. This is a foundational principle in the world today, without which the world would be in total chaos,' he declared. 'If in fact we accepted that you can charge money to use an international waterway because it happens to be near your territorial space, well then this will spread throughout the world like a contagion,' Rubio added. (AFP)

Senate Republicans, having been personally harangued by President Donald Trump for their opposition to his Iran military campaign, convened an after-hours session on Wednesday (June 24, 2026) in what appeared to be an effort to satisfy him — voting to defeat a War Powers resolution just one day after a nearly identical measure had passed the chamber. Earlier that Wednesday, Trump gathered GOP senators for a face-to-face encounter and berated them over their Tuesday (June 23, 2026) vote that had sought to curtail his war-making authority over Iran. The escalating feud has deepened fractures within the Republican Party, shifted the legislative spotlight away from the cost-of-living concerns central to the party's election-year strategy, and brought much of the Senate's routine business to a standstill. The overnight rejection of the War Powers resolution — played out against a backdrop of personal attacks and raw intra-party acrimony — has thrown into sharp relief the enduring divisions running through the GOP.

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, a Liberian oil tanker successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz despite threats posed to shipping by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The vessel utilized a new maritime corridor near the Omani coast that is supported by a United Nations maritime agency. The transit of the Stoic Warrior and the associated threats come at a time of escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington regarding the terms of their interim deal aimed at putting a final end to the Iran conflict. The Stoic Warrior signaled its intent to navigate the strait early Thursday. It began its journey by following the coastlines of the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The ship later sailed around the Musandam Peninsula of Oman, adhering to a specific route established by Oman in coordination with the International Maritime Organization, a UN entity that regulates maritime activities.

While celebrating the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, President Donald Trump stated that it was time to restart engines and resume oil exports. However, shipowners and their crews face significant challenges that are not visible above the waterline. Ajithkumar Sukumaran, a retired Additional Director General of Shipping, noted that vessels are not constructed to remain idle indefinitely. He explained that even when a ship is stationary, it functions as an active industrial system requiring continuous upkeep, preservation, and regulatory compliance. Shipping operations through the Strait of Hormuz are currently grappling with complex difficulties as vessels restart after prolonged periods at anchor, which impacts overall maritime efficiency and the well-being of the crew.

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a stern warning against crossing the Strait of Hormuz without authorization, declaring that any vessel failing to comply will face consequences. Tehran has indicated plans to implement maritime service fees, distinguishing them from tolls, whereas the United States maintains that the strait is an international waterway that should remain free from such charges. The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological wing of the Iranian military, stated that the only authorized route for transit is the one designated by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The statement warned that any unauthorized passage is deemed unacceptable and poses severe risks. Additionally, the Guards condemned what they described as a new route through the waterway announced by certain, unnamed authorities, without providing further specific details.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, that it might never be established who was responsible for the deadly strike on a girls' school in Iran on February 28, which occurred on the first day of the Iran war and resulted in the deaths of numerous children. Reuters reported in March that preliminary U.S. internal military investigations suggested that American forces were likely responsible for the strike in Minab, southern Iran. While the Pentagon has escalated the inquiry, it has not officially acknowledged any of the preliminary findings. "I don’t know that they are ever going to solve that problem," Mr. Trump told reporters. Trump suggests that determining accountability for the fatal strike on the Iranian girls' school may remain impossible amidst ongoing investigations.

The Israeli military reported on Thursday, June 25, 2026, that one soldier was killed during what it characterized as operational activity in southern Lebanon. The military provided no further details regarding the incident.

Shiite communities globally observed the holy occasion of Ashoura, which represents sacrifice and martyrdom. This year, the observance holds deeper significance due to the months-long conflict affecting Iran and Lebanon. The day commemorates the 680 AD Battle of Karbala, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred alongside his family and followers after he refused to submit to the Umayyad caliphate. This event solidified the rift between Sunni and Shiite Islam and persists as a potent emblem of resistance against injustice. Ashoura arrives as Iran and Lebanon—home to significant Shiite populations—have endured months of war. Meanwhile, Tehran and Washington began discussions this week to finalize a fragile ceasefire deal.

Analysts, former U.S. officials, and diplomats suggest that the potential U.S.-Iran agreement may deal a greater blow to Benjamin Netanyahu's political brand than to Israel's regional strategy. Netanyahu has spent decades cultivating the image of an Israeli leader capable of compelling Washington to align with his stance on Iran. Netanyahu based his political identity on the claim that he is uniquely capable of keeping the U.S. and Israel strategically unified regarding Tehran. By securing Republican backing, he projected himself as the only leader who could sway U.S. presidents, consistently arguing that sustained military force is the only way to contain Tehran.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Bahraini officials during the concluding stage of his West Asia tour, where he is working to gain support from skeptical Gulf Arab allies for the Trump administration's preliminary deal with Iran. Rubio acknowledged the sensitive nature of presenting this peace accord to Gulf leaders, who are concerned that excessive concessions might embolden Tehran and disrupt the regional security balance and oil flow. Upon arriving on the night of Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in the capital of Bahrain, Manama—which serves as the base for the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet—Rubio will engage with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The GCC is an alliance of six Sunni monarchies that also includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

Tehran on Thursday charged NATO with "complicity" in the U.S.-Israeli military campaign waged against Iran, after the bloc's secretary-general openly acknowledged its support for Washington during the fighting. NATO chief Mark Rutte, speaking on Fox News in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism that allied nations had not done enough to back America in the conflict, revealed that hundreds of U.S. military aircraft had conducted operations flying out of airbases on Italian territory. Rutte also disclosed to Fox News that during the Iran war, Romania had scaled back commercial aviation to free up its airports for use by American aerial refuelling tanker aircraft. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei issued a sharp condemnation of what he called the NATO chief's admission of "active complicity" in what Tehran termed an "unlawful war." "This is a clear and damning admission of NATO's active complicity in an unlawful war of aggression against a sovereign UN Member State," Baqaei wrote on X. He further accused the alliance of committing "a flagrant violation of peremptory norms of international law and the core principles of the UN Charter."

Crude oil prices declined further on Thursday, edging toward the levels that prevailed before the outbreak of the Iran war, as mounting expectations of greater supply from the Middle East overshadowed concerns about demand. Brent crude futures for August delivery were down $1.22, or 1.65%, at $72.52 a barrel at 0337 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude shed $1.02, or 1.45%, to trade at $69.32 a barrel. Both contracts registered their weakest reading since February 27.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Thursday that secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz is only feasible along routes that Iran has itself designated. The IRGC stated that any alternative passage announced without prior consultation with Tehran is both unacceptable and constitutes a risk to navigational safety. The Guards warned that ships failing to comply with the prescribed conditions would face action.

The Trump administration formally submitted a supplemental spending request of $87.6 billion to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, with the majority of funds tied to the ongoing war with Iran, setting up a potential clash with lawmakers who are already deeply frustrated with the conflict. The proposal, published on the White House website and officially transmitted to Capitol Hill, allocates $67.15 billion for the armed forces. This is on top of approximately $1 trillion in defense funding already approved the prior year and a further $1.5 trillion in military appropriations that Mr. Trump is pursuing for the coming fiscal year. The White House stated that the new funds would be directed toward sustaining Iran war operations — covering expenses such as troop pay and combat readiness, restocking depleted weapons inventories, and financing classified programs. Within the military portion, $21 billion is earmarked for munitions procurement, strengthening the American defense industrial base, and supporting critical operational capabilities.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended firm assurances to America's Gulf partners on Wednesday that Washington would guard their interests as it works to broker a lasting resolution to the Middle East war through ongoing negotiations with Tehran. Rubio is currently on a tour of Gulf capitals aimed at rebuilding confidence among nations that endured Iranian missile and drone strikes during the fighting, and whose critical oil and gas shipments were effectively halted when Tehran imposed a blockade at the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking during his stop in Kuwait City, Rubio told officials that the United States and its Gulf partners would remain in full lockstep as Washington negotiates a permanent peace settlement with Iran. "We're going to be completely aligned with our partners in the Gulf," he said, adding that the United States would "engage them on conversations about every decision that's made with regards to this negotiation." Rubio is scheduled to join a Gulf Cooperation Council gathering in Bahrain on Thursday, having already held separate talks on Wednesday with the top leaders of both Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.