Live: West Asia War LIVE: Hormuz ship strike suspends UN sailor rescue; IAEA chief demands robust nuclear oversight for Iran

On Saturday, the Revolutionary Guards of Iran announced that they had struck American military sites within the region. This action was taken as a retaliation against the recent offensive launched by the United States on Iran. No specific information was shared by the Guards regarding which American installations in the area were hit. This declaration from the IRGC followed a previous report by the semi-official ISNA news agency, which had shared an earlier message allegedly from the IRGC. That deleted message warned that the force's reaction to any new American action against Iran would be "swift and decisive". This development was reported by Reuters.

Late on Friday, loyalists of Hezbollah demonstrated across the streets of Beirut, voicing their opposition to a newly declared pact between Israel and Lebanon, according to reports from state media and an AFP journalist on the ground. The state-operated National News Agency (NNA) noted that demonstrators on motorcycles navigated through the capital's thoroughfares, including key zones near the parliament building and the highway heading toward the airport, to manifest their anger against the Lebanon-Israel framework accord. The agency further stated that protesters set tyres on fire to obstruct at least one route. A journalist from AFP observed motorcycle riders shouting slogans along a major route, while the Lebanese military established makeshift checkpoints across multiple areas of the capital city.

American Vice President JD Vance stated on Friday that the United States would respond to any act of hostility with equal force, declaring 'violence will be met with violence.' His remarks came in the wake of Washington's military strikes on Iran, which were launched after a cargo ship came under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X, Vance also wrote: 'If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone.'

Iranian media reported on Friday that a projectile came down near a pier in Sirik, a town in Iran's southern region. The report surfaced after the U.S. military had already announced that it carried out strikes against Iran. Iranian media, quoting a military source, further said that warning shots were fired earlier the same Friday in the direction of vessels described as "violating" the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. Central Command released a statement Friday confirming that American forces had executed strikes on Iran. It said U.S. aircraft hit sites where Iran stores its missiles and drones, along with radar installations positioned along the Iranian coast — all of it carried out in response to Tehran's strike on a commercial ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has described the framework agreement concluded with Israel on Friday as an opening step toward the complete restoration of his country's sovereignty, reached in the wake of the recent conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed organisation Hezbollah. In a statement issued by the presidential office, Aoun said the accord signed that day was "a first step" that would allow the Lebanese people "to return to their fully liberated lands, and to their certainly rebuilt homes... under the sovereignty of the Lebanese state that has no partner in its sovereignty over its land and people." He vowed that work would press on until the objective is completely achieved, declaring: "There will be no more occupation, prisoners, subordination or tutelage." — AFP

American President Donald Trump declared on Friday that Iran has managed to preserve "some" military capability even after the recent U.S. strikes carried out against it — though he was careful to note that this residual strength amounts to "not much."

America's Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday revealed that a framework agreement had been reached between Israel and Lebanon, coming at the conclusion of a round of diplomatic discussions held in Washington.

US President Donald Trump has held Iran squarely accountable for the drone strike targeting a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. He condemned the attack as a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire accord that had been in force.

The head of the UN's maritime agency announced on Friday (June 26, 2026) that roughly 115 ships and approximately 2,500 sailors had successfully cleared the Strait of Hormuz since Tuesday. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez shared this update a day after the organisation paused its operation to move out around 600 vessels and 11,000 crew members, following a strike on a ship in the Gulf of Oman. Speaking at a virtual press briefing, Dominguez said that over the previous three and a half days, 115 ships had departed the strait, and around 2,500 seafarers had now reached safety.

Shipping movement through the Strait of Hormuz dipped from its Wednesday (June 24, 2026) peak, yet vessels continued sailing along a route not approved by Iran, even after a ship was struck by a projectile, according to data from maritime tracking platforms on Friday (June 26, 2026). Kpler's tracking data showed at least 42 cargo ships — including oil tankers, gas carriers, and dry bulk vessels transporting goods like fertilisers — made the crossing on Thursday, down from a peak of 57 recorded on Wednesday (June 24, 2026). Of those 42 ships, ten were heading into the Gulf while 32 were exiting. Half of the total vessels opted for a southerly route running along the Omani coastline.

Residents across the United Arab Emirates received an emergency mobile alert from the interior ministry on Friday (June 26, 2026) warning of a "potential missile threat," which was deactivated shortly afterward. This marked the first such warning in over a month. The ministry later distributed a follow-up notification advising people to "disregard the previous warning," indicating that it was likely a false alarm. However, some citizens had already received a second alert about the threat before the cancellation message was sent. "Given the ongoing situation and potential missile threats, please seek a safe shelter immediately," the interior ministry stated in the initial notification, before broadcasting another message that read: "The situation is currently safe. You may resume your normal activities."

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed on Friday (June 26, 2026) underscored the importance of abiding by the terms of the US-Iran agreement and ensuring the safety of maritime pathways, including the freedom of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, during a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi, according to the UAE's state news agency WAM.

Tehran announced Friday that 22 Iranian crew members from an oil tanker seized by the United States during the recent hostilities have been moved to the Iranian consulate in Pakistan. Pakistan, which acts as a mediator in discussions with Washington and is Iran's eastern neighbour, facilitated the repatriation of the "22 Iranian seafarers whose oil tanker had been seized by the United States," according to the official state news agency IRNA. The crew members were placed in the custody of Iranian diplomats stationed in Karachi and are expected to head back to Iran in the coming days, the agency reported.

Shipments of agricultural fertilisers through the Strait of Hormuz are beginning to recover following a temporary agreement to halt the war with Iran, data indicates. However, analysts caution that it will take some time for transport volumes to return to pre-war levels and ease pressure on the global market. Before the United States and Israel initiated the conflict on February 28, approximately one-third of globally distributed urea—the most common crop nutrient—and nearly half of ocean-transported sulphur, a vital component, regularly crossed the strait. However, the near-total shutdown of this critical passage for the majority of the conflict led to a steep decline in those cargo movements.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates issued an incoming missile warning for Dubai on Friday (June 26, 2026). What triggered the alert, which sounded just after 5:15 p.m. local time, was not immediately clear. Iran is suspected of executing a drone strike on a tanker near the coast of Oman on Thursday, as Tehran continues to challenge regional forces and the US over dominance in the Strait of Hormuz, despite the ongoing temporary truce in the Iran conflict. A few minutes later, government officials declared the situation safe and ended the alert, without offering any further details.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Friday (June 26, 2026) that any move by Iran to launch an attack against Israel would turn out to be the gravest error Tehran has ever made. The day before, on Thursday (June 25, 2026), Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani had stated that Israel could not hold on to southern Lebanon indefinitely — if it chose not to pull back voluntarily, it would sooner or later be compelled to leave in defeat.

Indian refining industry sources revealed that multiple brokers have pitched discounted crude from Iran to refiners in India, as Tehran aims to accelerate its oil sales following a brief sanctions waiver granted by Washington. On Monday, June 22, 2026, the United States suspended its sanctions against Iran for a period of 60 days in the wake of initial discussions under a developing peace agreement, creating a brief opportunity for restarting energy commerce. The proposals to the Indian refineries have originated both directly from the National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) and via third-party agents who claim to have received oil allocations from the state-owned Iranian producer, according to the sources.

On Friday, June 26, 2026, Israel's military released leaflets over a community in the southern region of Lebanon, commanding residents to evacuate, according to reports from Lebanese state media. This marks the initial instruction of its kind since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect. The location of the town is close to the edge of the territory inside southern Lebanon that is currently occupied by Israeli forces, according to Israel's border specifications. A high-ranking military officer from Lebanon stated that Israel had lately incorporated the town into the zone occupied by its forces in southern Lebanon. According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli troops are securing the northern boundary of this designated zone by opening fire on anyone who comes near it, including local civilians as well as Lebanese armed forces. The military source added that while agricultural workers had been coming in and out of Mansouri, they had not been residing there.

Shiite Muslims observed one of the most significant occasions on their calendar on Friday, June 26, 2026, assembling in massive crowds across Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and other nations to commemorate the seventh-century death of Hussein, the grandson of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. This year's Ashoura takes place after a conflict involving Shiite-majority Iran against the United States and Israel, which conducted airstrikes on the nation on February 28, resulting in the deaths of high-level figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The 86-year-old Khamenei served not only as Iran’s premier political authority but also held the ultimate decision-making power on religious topics, being deeply venerated by millions of Shiites globally. A funeral procession dedicated to Khamenei is set to be held in the early part of July.

Fewer ships navigated through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, June 26, 2026, compared to earlier in the week, shortly after Iranian forces fired upon a vessel operated by a Taiwanese company, vessel-tracking information revealed. The UN shipping regulator briefly suspended its voluntary program to assist the exit of hundreds of stranded vessels and thousands of crew members from the Gulf region after the ship sustained damage near the Omani section of the passage. Even so, a minimum of four tankers, including three massive crude carriers capable of holding up to 2 million barrels of oil each, navigated into the Gulf to take on oil cargo, as shown by LSEG and MarineTraffic monitoring data on Friday. Furthermore, two distinct supertankers navigated the strait to take on Iranian crude oil, according to different shipping data, and an additional tanker departed the strait carrying 2 million barrels of crude via the Omani territory of Hormuz, according to analytical data from Kpler.

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog declared on Friday, June 26, 2026, that Iran's vow to avoid constructing nuclear weaponry would require highly rigorous verification measures, as the United States and Tehran negotiate a lasting treaty to formally conclude their conflict. The nuclear initiative of Iran remains a central point of contention in the diplomatic talks aimed at resolving the war in the Middle East, which erupted in late February following heavy strikes launched by US and Israeli forces. Last week, Iran and the US penned an initial framework to halt the hostilities, initiating discussions that are set to cover a wide array of disagreements, with the nuclear program being a primary topic.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem stated on Friday, June 26, 2026, that Israel is left with no choice but to pull out of the Lebanese territories it is currently occupying, characterizing the Iran-US agreement that eased combat with Israel as a defeat for Washington and Jerusalem. With rising hostilities and regional friction, Naim Qassem of Hezbollah is demanding that Israeli troops conduct an unconditional withdrawal from Lebanon.

Taiwanese container shipping firm Evergreen Marine has confirmed that one of its vessels was struck by an "unidentified object" while making its way through the Strait of Hormuz, though the crew, the ship and its cargo all emerged without injury. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a maritime monitoring agency, had earlier reported that a projectile hit a ship in the strait on Thursday, June 25, 2026, with multiple U.S. media outlets reporting that Iran was responsible for the attack. Following the incident, the Iranian body that asserts control over traffic in the Strait of Hormuz issued a warning, and the UN suspended its ongoing effort to evacuate mariners who remain stranded in the waterway. Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) named the ship as the Ever Lovely, a container vessel registered in the city-state. The MPA said the Ever Lovely suffered "minor damage to the bridge area from an unknown projectile" as it was leaving the Strait of Hormuz on June 25, and confirmed that the ship has since cleared the strait and is now continuing its journey. The MPA did not reveal the vessel's destination but corroborated Evergreen Marine's account that all 21 crew members on board are unharmed.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi declared on Friday, June 26, 2026, that vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be given any assurance of safe transit unless they engage directly with Tehran beforehand. He added that a failure to do so could result in the suspension of any officially designated shipping route through the strait. The statement was posted on social media platform X and came in response to Oman's announcement — made in coordination with the International Maritime Organization — of temporary designated routes for ships navigating through the strait.

Crisil Ratings has assessed that the damage to corporate India's profitability from the West Asia conflict could turn out to be roughly half as severe as first feared, on the condition that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran holds and energy supplies keep recovering. The agency now forecasts that the conflict will pare India Inc's operating margins by around 100 basis points in fiscal year 2027. This is a significant revision from its earlier projection of a 200-basis-point reduction, which was premised on a scenario where the conflict dragged on and choked maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz. The updated estimate comes against the backdrop of a steep fall in crude oil prices following the Strait of Hormuz being reopened under a tentative U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding. Crisil nonetheless cautioned that geopolitical risks across the region remain elevated, and that gas supplies could take considerably longer to return to normal. — PTI

Ensuring Iran does not develop nuclear weapons after the Middle East conflict will require a "very strong" verification framework to be put in place, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said on Friday. The remarks by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi come as the United States and Iran conduct broader negotiations to bring the war to a close, with Tehran's nuclear programme remaining among the most contentious points on the table. "The objective of this recent U.S.-Iran agreement, as I understand it, is to guarantee that nuclear weapons are not developed in Iran. Iran's government has stated very clearly that this is not its intention," Mr. Grossi told reporters in Japan. "Intentions, however, are simply not sufficient. A very strong verification system must be established — and this needs to happen as soon as practically possible," the IAEA chief said. Mr. Grossi further noted that the watchdog had "barely begun" discussions with Iran — following Iran's preliminary agreement with the United States — on what should be done with Tehran's existing stockpile of enriched uranium. -AFP

Analysts suggest that the primary victim of the U.S.-Iran deal may not be Israel's strategy toward Iran. Rather, it is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu whose political clout and ability to shape Israel's relationship with the United States stand to take the hardest hit from the agreement.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Thursday (June 25, 2026) issued a stern warning that any vessel attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without proper authorisation would face repercussions. The alert came amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday (June 25) offered reassurances to Gulf Arab partner nations that any deal ultimately reached with Iran would fully factor in their regional interests. The remarks came as he concluded a West Asia visit aimed at presenting the Trump administration's preliminary Iran accord to regional allies who have remained sceptical of the agreement. Rubio moved to address Gulf partners' concerns over concessions under discussion in the U.S.-Iran talks, emphasising that their security would be a top priority in any eventual outcome.

Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons after the West Asia conflict will require a "very strong" verification mechanism to be established, the chief of the UN's nuclear oversight body said on Friday (June 26). "As I see it, the goal of this recent U.S.-Iran agreement is to ensure that nuclear weapons are not produced in Iran. Iran's government has made it entirely clear that this is not its intention," Rafael Grossi told journalists in Japan. "Yet intentions alone are not sufficient. A very strong verification structure must be put in place on the ground — and at the earliest possible opportunity," Mr. Grossi said.

An attack on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday (June 26) forced the United Nations to suspend its ongoing efforts to bring stranded mariners to safety. At the same time, the United States cautioned Iran against levying fees on ships navigating the strategically vital waterway. The New York Times and several other American news organisations reported that Iran had targeted a container ship within the strait. Shortly after the incident, an Iranian body claiming regulatory authority over traffic in the waterway issued a public alert. "Any transit through routes not sanctioned by PGSA will not be afforded safe passage protections," the Persian Gulf Strait Authority posted on X. - AFP