Trump warns of military action if Iran talks fail

We are closing this coverage now. For the latest updates, click here.

Yemen's internationally-recognised government on Monday said it is ready for any escalation with Houthi rebels after the Iran-backed group launched attacks and a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia. 

Fears are growing that renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen may further destabilise the Arabian peninsula and rattle the region's precarious fault lines.

"At the end of the day, we are prepared for any escalations," Yemen's foreign minister designate Afrah al-Zouba told reporters during a briefing in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The comments came just hours after the Houthis said they launched fresh drone strikes targeting Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure in response to incursions by the kingdom's drones.

Maritime traffic patterns diverged sharply in recent days across two of the world’s most critical shipping lanes in the Middle East, with markedly fewer vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz while activity remained robust through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to ship-tracking data.

Between July 24 and 26, the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which about one-fifth of global oil passes — saw just 29 verified crossings.

Of those, 21 vessels were exiting the Middle East Gulf and eight were entering. Routing was split, with 14 using the Iranian unilateral scheme, 14 undetermined and one following the Hormuz Traffic Separation Scheme, MarineTraffic reported.

By contrast, the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea recorded 100 verified crossings, with traffic nearly balanced: 51 vessels entering the Red Sea and 49 exiting.

The vast majority — 90 — followed the established Traffic Separation Scheme, while 10 made "dark" transits (with transponders off).

Some vessels that had paused or reversed course ultimately proceeded, indicating operators are weighing risks in real time rather than abandoning the route.

Global oil prices fell sharply in early Asian trading on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington had halted its bombing campaign against Iran to allow diplomacy a chance, easing fears of an immediate disruption to Middle East crude supplies.

A market snapshot at 7:36 am Tokyo time showed:

• Brent crude: $88.36 per barrel, down $8.42 (-8.70%)

• WTI crude: $81.97, down $0.64 (-0.77%)

• Murban crude: $84.43, down $12.62 (-13.00%)

• Natural gas: $2.740, down 0.98%

The steep decline in Brent and Murban crude reflects investors rapidly unwinding the geopolitical risk premium that had been built into oil prices during weeks of escalating conflict between the US and Iran.

Yemen is worried that Houthi rebels are trying to emulate Iran's attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz, a senior official said Monday, after the group announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia. 

The "Houthis want to copy the Iran experience in Hormuz," foreign minister designate Afrah al-Zouba told reporters during a briefing saying the Tehran-backed rebels were "in harmony" with Iranian escalation in the region.  

Global oil prices fell sharply in early Asian trading on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump said Washington had halted its bombing campaign against Iran to allow diplomacy a chance, easing fears of an immediate disruption to Middle East crude supplies.

A market snapshot at 7:36 am Tokyo time showed:

• Brent crude: $88.36 per barrel, down $8.42 (-8.70%)

• WTI crude: $81.97, down $0.64 (-0.77%)

• Murban crude: $84.43, down $12.62 (-13.00%)

• Natural gas: $2.740, down 0.98%

The steep decline in Brent and Murban crude reflects investors rapidly unwinding the geopolitical risk premium that had been built into oil prices during weeks of escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi called on Monday for an investigation into Saudi Arabia's claim that drones targeting its territory had been launched by pro-Iran groups in Iraq, his spokesman said.

Zaidi directed "the competent security authorities to investigate the statement issued by the ministry of defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the targeting of the kingdom with drones launched from Iraqi territory", spokesman Sabah al-Numan said in a statement. 

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella network of Iran-backed Shia militias conducting attacks against US and Israeli targets while operating outside Iraq's formal military structure, said the Saudi accusations were "fabrications that serve only as an attempt to justify their inability to respond to the painful Yemeni strikes".

President Donald J. Trump announced that the US would draw on Iranian funds under American control to compensate for damages caused by recent attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, describing the move as a fair way to hold Tehran accountable without burdening American taxpayers.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled to an event in Michigan, Mr. Trump addressed the issue directly. “We’re going to use Iran’s money to pay for the damage they did,” he said. “In other words, the Iran money that we control will be used to pay for damages.”

The president’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, where Iranian forces or proxy groups have been linked to assaults on commercial vessels, disrupting a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. US Treasury officials are finalising details on the precise extent of the damages, the total value of frozen Iranian assets to be tapped, and implementation timelines.

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressed his condemnation and denunciation of the attacks targeting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by drones launched by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, underscoring that these assaults represent a dangerous escalation, a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to the security and stability of the region.

Albudaiwi reaffirmed the GCC's full solidarity with the Kingdom and its support for all measures it takes to protect its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

UN experts on Monday called on Iran to cancel the death penalties given to 10 young men over anti-government protests that rocked the country in January.

Twelve men, aged between their late teens and early twenties, were sentenced and two were executed on July 19.

"Sentencing 12 people to death in one hearing, in a closed courtroom and without clarity as to each defendant's individual responsibility violates established fair trial standards," the experts said.

The 13 experts are special rapporteurs of the United Nations and members of working groups on forced disappearances and arbitrary detention.

But they do not speak on behalf of the world body.

The anti-government protests, which were met with a deadly crackdown on January 8 and 9, were sparked by demonstrations against the high cost of living.

The Iranian authorities said more than 3,000 people died and blamed violence on "terrorist acts" which they said were orchestrated by the United States and Israel.

According to the UN experts, 24 people linked to the January protests have been hanged this year.

The 12 young men condemned to death were accused of involvement in the death of four members of the security forces as well as acts of arson and vandalism during protests on January 8 in Shahid Alikhani Square, Isfahan.

They were convicted based on televised confessions, the UN experts said.

"The charges against them remain unclear, as the Revolutionary Court hearings are closed and judgments are not published," they added.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi called on Monday for an investigation into Saudi Arabia's claim that drones targeting its territory had been launched by pro-Iran groups in Iraq, his spokesman said.

Zaidi directed "the competent security authorities to investigate the statement issued by the ministry of defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the targeting of the kingdom with drones launched from Iraqi territory", spokesman Sabah al-Numan said in a statement.

The UAE has strongly condemned the drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory that attempted to target oil facilities in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province and the Riyadh region.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the attacks were a blatant violation of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and posed a serious threat to the Kingdom's security and stability.

The ministry reaffirmed the UAE's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its unwavering support for all measures the Kingdom takes to protect its security and stability.

The UAE has condemned in the strongest terms the hostile attack targeting the brotherly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with two drones.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that this hostile attack constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Jordan and a threat to its security and stability.

The Ministry reiterated the UAE’s full solidarity with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding its security and stability.

President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed concerns that US ammunition stockpiles are running low after five months of bombing Iran, telling reporters: "We have a lot."

Asked aboard Air Force One if he was concerned about munitions being depleted, Trump said: "We have a lot of ammunition. We have a lot of the mid-level stuff too, more than we could ever use no matter what."

He added that he would prefer larger reserves but complained that "so much was given to Ukraine" in its war with Russia.

US President Donald Trump voiced optimism Monday that diplomacy with Iran could produce a deal to end the months-long war, but warned that Washington would resume military strikes if negotiations failed.

"I have a lot of patience... We'll see what happens. I think there is a good chance that something could happen," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, when asked about possible progress in peace talks.

"If it doesn't, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago."

US President Donald Trump on Monday said that he is prepared to resume "very strong military action" against Iran if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail, even as he confirmed that he had paused planned strikes on the Islamic Republic to allow negotiations another opportunity, according to a report by Axios.

According to Axios, the current negotiations are focused on reaching a new agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and revive discussions on a broader nuclear deal with Iran.

The talks are being led primarily by Iran and Oman, with Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, and Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser Jared Kushner also playing active roles.

Speaking to Axios, Trump indicated that while diplomacy remains the preferred path for now, military action remains an option if negotiations do not produce results.

"We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don't work out, we will go back to very strong military action," Trump told Axios.

When asked how much time he was willing to allow for diplomacy, Trump said, "Not much time. Either it goes fast or not at all."

According to Axios, Trump said he decided to suspend planned US strikes after countries involved in mediation efforts, along with several regional governments, urged him to give negotiations another chance.

"All of the people that deal with Iran asked me, 'Don't fire,'" Trump said, adding that he believed Iran was interested in reaching an agreement.

Explaining his decision to delay military action, Trump said, "Nothing gained, nothing lost."

Iran on Monday accused the US of being responsible for the "current situation" in West Asia, alleging that Washington's conduct with its recent military strikes on the Islamic Republic has been similar to that of a "mafia gang" that does not follow rules or international laws.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said during a press conference that Iran considers the US responsible for the ongoing tensions in the region and criticised Washington's actions, while asserting that Tehran's focus remains on protecting its national interests.

"The only one to blame for the current situation is America," Baghaei said, as quoted by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

He slammed the military aggression by the US against Iran, referring to multiple attacks against the country, despite the signing of the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the hostilities in the region.

"Let's not forget that the US and the Zionist regime committed military aggression against Iran last year in June, for the second time on March 29, and for the third time on the twenty-first or twenty-second day after the signing of a memorandum of understanding," the spokesperson said, as quoted by IRIB.

Baghaei further criticised US actions, saying, "America's behaviour has been like a mafia gang that does not adhere to any rules or laws, and we currently have no ceasefire."

Iranian security forces killed four members of an outlawed Kurdish group in the west of the country near Iraq, state television said Monday.

"Following an armed clash between the brave border guards and these aggressor elements, four members of the PJAK group were killed," police said in a statement carried by state TV.

Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Iran, Turkey and the United States.

"Significant amounts of weapons and ammunition, including several pistols, magazines, bullets, and hand grenades, were discovered," in their vehicle near the city of Baneh in the western province of Kurdistan, the statement added.

Wall Street stocks mostly rose early Monday as oil prices tumbled after the United States and Iran paused military strikes while markets anticipated key earnings and a Federal Reserve decision.

US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News that President Donald Trump would give negotiations "a little bit of room," while Iran army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Iran had also halted military strikes.

Crude prices were down more than six per cent early Monday.

About 55 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.7 percent at 52,298.68.

The broad-based S&P 500 gained 0.1 percent to 7,419.79, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index dipped 0.1 percent to 24,957.07.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they launched drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure on Monday in response to incursions by the kingdom's drones.

The Houthi's military spokesman Yahya Saree said "a number of sensitive targets and points involved in the supply and transport of crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu were struck using several drones", referring to the port city where the Gulf monarchy's East-West pipeline reaches the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence said its air defence forces intercepted and destroyed several drones over the past few hours after they attempted to target oil facilities in the Kingdom's Eastern Province and the Riyadh region.

The ministry's official spokesperson, Major General Turki Al Malki, said the attempted attacks were launched from Iraqi territory by Iranian-backed militias.

Al Malki said Saudi Arabia has the legitimate right to defend its territory, its people and its critical infrastructure. He added that the Kingdom reserves the right to respond at a time and place of its choosing.

Mediators have achieved progress in efforts to get the US and Iran back to negotiations and avert an all-out war in the Middle East, two regional officials said Monday, with a pause in attacks coming after a period of rapidly escalating tensions.

The comments came after neither the US nor Iran reported carrying out any attacks for three straight days - a respite after about two weeks of sustained bombardments that had led to increasing fears of a return to all-out war.

The two regional officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive regional talks, said mediators led by Qatar and Pakistan were working to bridge the gap between Washington and Tehran to return to an interim ceasefire deal that had been largely undermined by recent exchanges of fire.

The Israeli military said it intercepted on Monday two drones near the Jordanian border and was investigating where they had been launched from.

Earlier this month, the military said Israeli and Jordanian forces had intercepted an Iranian missile fired towards the Jordanian city of Aqaba.

"A short while ago, the IDF intercepted two UAVs identified in the area of the Jordan border," the military said on Monday.

"The UAVs did not cross into Israeli territory. The origin of the launch is under review."

The Jordanian army later said that "the Royal Jordanian Air Force aircraft intercepted and shot down, on Monday morning, two drones that had targeted the Kingdom's territory".

It added that "the interception and downing operation did not result in any human casualties or material damage".

Jordan has been repeatedly targeted since war resumed between Iran and the United States earlier this month.

Israel has not taken part in the latest round of fighting.

Iran's foreign ministry on Monday said it was not currently involved in negotiations with the United States, despite a halt in recent fighting between the two sides.

"At present, we are not engaged in any negotiations with the United States," said the ministry's spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei at a weekly press briefing, denying reports that Iran had requested talks.

Iran's foreign ministry said it had summoned the French ambassador to Tehran to protest the conduct of two diplomats who were briefly detained earlier this month.

"Yesterday, the French ambassador in Tehran was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where it was stressed that the French government must cease such actions and such interference in Iran's internal affairs under misleading labels," said the ministry's spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.

He said the diplomats had "interfered in Iran's internal affairs under the pretext of engaging with civil society".

Their actions, Baqaei said, were "in no way justified under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations".

On July 20, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said two French diplomats in Iran were targeted by Iranian officials the day before and suffered "an extremely serious act of intimidation" by the Islamic republic's security services.

Both were "detained for several hours without reason, interrogated, and one of them was physically abused" before they were able to return to the embassy, he said.

Iran’s army has warned that it will respond “more severely” to any future attacks by its adversaries.

In a statement marking the anniversary of Operation Mersad, a key battle during the final phase of the Iran-Iraq War, the military said it remained “more vigilant than ever” and was prepared to counter “any threat and conspiracy of the enemies”.

The army said it would continue to defend Iran’s “independence and territorial integrity” and would deliver a stronger response to any future aggression, according to a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.

Negotiations between Iran and Oman over managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were held on Friday and Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

Baghaei said the discussions focused on ways to manage maritime traffic through the key waterway.

“There were useful discussions on how to manage shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

He added that the status of the strait had not changed and that it remained closed, stressing that the talks were unrelated to the United States.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has accused the United States of turning to negotiations whenever global energy prices increase.

Speaking to reporters in Tehran, Baghaei claimed Washington had initially believed Iran would “collapse in three days and surrender” after the start of the US-Israeli war.

“Now, months later, America is stuck in this place and they are proud of its crimes,” he said.

Baghaei said Tehran had observed the US returning to the negotiating table whenever energy markets faced pressure.

Iran has condemned a Ukrainian attack on a ship in the Caspian Sea as “illegal”, warning that it reserves the right to respond.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the strike violated international law and described it as a “dangerous manoeuvre”.

“We will have the right to reply,” Baghaei said, without providing further details.

He added that Tehran had maintained a policy of non-intervention since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy stopped six vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz through routes not approved by Iranian authorities, state television reported on Monday.

"Last night, six vessels that attempted to transit through a route other than the designated one were stopped by the IRGC Navy with warning shots and turned back," a state television correspondent reported from the Gulf.

Earlier state TV said one vessel was involved in an "incident", without elaborating.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has departed for Washington, DC, where he is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump, according to Israel’s Arabic-language account on X.

The visit is taking place at Trump’s invitation, with the two leaders expected to discuss “issues of concern to both countries”, the post said.

Netanyahu’s trip comes despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), adding international scrutiny to his visit to the US.

Iran on Monday condemned what it described as a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that the incident “cannot go unanswered.”

Araghchi said Tehran viewed the reported strike as a serious escalation and pledged that Iran would respond, though he did not specify what measures the government was considering.

Singapore tightened monetary policy on Monday for the second time in three months, as the fallout from the US war against Iran keeps global energy markets volatile and inflation risks elevated.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it would increase the rate of appreciation of the local dollar's trade-weighted value.

The move comes as oil prices remain elevated owing to tensions in the Middle East, sparked by the US-Israel attacks on Iran that began on February 28, and continue to cast a shadow.

Because the city-state imports most of its needs, higher global prices for food and energy directly drive up local living costs.

Unlike many central banks, the MAS manages inflation by adjusting the Singapore dollar against a basket of currencies of its main trading partners within an undisclosed band, rather than setting interest rates.

A strong Singapore dollar eases the effects of rising import costs.

"Singapore's imported costs are likely to rise in the quarters ahead," the MAS said, adding that core inflation "is forecast to step up in July and remain elevated into early next year."

It warned that "inflation could pick up more strongly than anticipated if energy prices spike anew" as "fuel reserves have been drawn down significantly and renewed supply disruptions in the Middle East could cause sharp surges in oil prices".

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has appealed to world leaders and international bodies for urgent action to halt what he described as escalating Israeli military operations and settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

In letters sent Sunday and uploaded early on Monday (July 27), Abbas urged Arab and friendly nations, the European Union, the Arab League and the UN Security Council president to intervene amid what the Palestinian Authority calls a “dangerous escalation”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he plans to attend the UN General Assembly in New York this autumn, dismissing previous threats by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to have him arrested over an International Criminal Court warrant.

In an interview with US media, Netanyahu said he was "not concerned" about Mamdani's earlier comments, noting that the mayor has since acknowledged he lacks the legal authority to arrest a foreign head of government.

The Israeli leader accused Mamdani of fueling divisions in the city.

"He's supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers — Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone — but he's trying to turn one group against the other," Netanyahu said.

The Pentagon has removed four US service members killed during the recent escalation with Iran from the official war casualty count, according to an Associated Press report.

The Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS), previously cited by military officials as the main record for casualties linked to the conflict, no longer includes the four deaths and dozens of injuries in its primary tally.

The AP reported that the casualties have instead been moved under a separate category titled “Overseas Operations”, which lists the names of the four fallen troops along with 207 injured personnel.

It remains unclear whether all the reported injuries were directly linked to the fighting between the US and Iran.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on said Ukraine's attack on an Iranian commercial ship in the Caspian Sea "cannot go unanswered."

In a post on the social media platform X, Araghchi accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of ordering "a blatant UN Charter violation done at Israel's behest to drag Europe into its war."

He said he had "made clear that what the freeloader in Kyiv did CANNOT GO UNANSWERED" in phone calls with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday and Sunday respectively, Xinhua news agency reported.

He made the remarks on Saturday in a phone call with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, in which the two sides discussed the latest regional developments, according to a statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi condemned the Ukrainian attack, urging the EU, UN Security Council, and international community to hold its "perpetrators" and supporters to account, according to the statement.

The two sides also addressed developments in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the need for diplomatic initiatives to manage regional tensions, it added.

In a separate statement, the ministry said it summoned Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Tehran on Saturday over the attack, formally delivering a note of protest condemning the "hostile and criminal" act

Global oil prices fell sharply in early Asian trading on Monday, with benchmark crude surrendering much of last week's war-driven gains as investors shifted focus from geopolitical fears to signs that military escalation between the United States and Iran may be easing.

A market snapshot at 7:32 am Monday (July 27) on OilPrice.com in Tokyo showed:

• WTI crude: $84.02 a barrel, down $5.29 or 5.92%

• Brent crude: $90.88 a barrel, down $5.90 or 6.10%

• Murban crude: $97.05 a barrel, down $10.12 or 9.44%

• Natural gas: $2.805, down 2.3%

The declines follow a week of extreme volatility in energy markets, during which oil prices briefly surged toward multi-month highs amid fears that fighting involving Iran, the US and Houthi militants could disrupt crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

US President Donald Trump dismissed growing concerns that military stockpiles are reaching dangerously low levels, directly refuting reports that interceptor shortages are constraining American military strategy in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, Trump rejected claims that dwindling munitions pose a problem for US defence capabilities, asserting, "we have far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need."

The President's remarks come in response to a report by The New York Times regarding internal administration deliberations where Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine expressed concerns that interceptor reserves could be exhausted if military operations escalate further.

According to officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper believes American forces can manage the constrained inventory of Patriot and other air defence interceptors.

The strategy relies on expanding US strikes, pending approval from Trump, to neutralise Iran's launching capacity before large-scale missile volleys can be initiated.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the United States is exchanging messages with Iran through mediators, including Pakistan and Qatar, according to Iranian media reports, citing his remarks in an interview with Austrian broadcaster ORF.

Baghaei stressed in the interview that for any dialogue to be formed, the "proper ground" must be prepared, noting that the United States has destroyed such a ground, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Iranian media.

He accused Washington of violating "all its provisions" in practice under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States.

The spokesman said Iran's current priority "is to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and protect its people against the war crimes that are being perpetrated by the United States."

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Sunday (local time) sharply criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the United States, responding to remarks by the Israeli leader welcoming the removal of International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan.

In a post on X, the Deputy Foreign Minister also condemned the US' for attempting to act against the court after the Israeli PM noted commitments by Washington to oppose the International Criminal Court.

"The Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, the accused with an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, brazenly declares that the US Secretary of State has pledged to act against the Court pursuing him," the official stated. "They call the Court 'corrupt' because it dared to pursue Washington's wanted criminal."

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has reaffirmed Tehran’s support for the Lebanese group Hezbollah in a letter addressed to its leader Naim Qassem, commanders and fighters, according to a CNN report.

In the letter, Khamenei praised Hezbollah’s “perseverance and steadfastness”, describing the group as being at the forefront of resistance against Israel and its allies. He also credited communities in southern Lebanon for supporting Hezbollah.

Khamenei said backing Hezbollah remains a key strategic policy of the Islamic Republic. He added that protecting Lebanon’s territorial integrity and securing a “complete and unconditional” end to Israeli attacks were Iran’s main conditions for any agreement to end the conflict.

The letter accused the United States and Israel of oppression and said “jihad and resistance” remained the only path forward.

US President Donald Trump shared a series of AI-generated images to project American military supremacy, particularly against Iran, and advance political themes surrounding the 2028 election campaign.

The digital artwork, shared by the President on his Truth Social account, spans direct depictions of armed conflict and maritime seizures, futuristic defence visuals, historical comparisons, and domestic political symbolism.

The first group of images focuses on military strikes, sea patrols, and direct action in the Middle East.

In one image labelled "Guardians of the World," a massive President Trump stands over the horizon behind American stealth fighter jets marked "U.S.A.," which fly above giant explosions tearing through ground targets labelled "IRAN" while US warships patrol the water below.

Another picture, called "Strike on Kharg," shows an air attack on Iran's main oil terminal on Kharg Island, with jets flying over huge fireballs, heavy smoke, and burning fuel tanks.

Action on the water is further highlighted in "It's Our Oil Tanker Now!," where President Trump and armed US troops stand on an Iranian ship while men in white thobes and traditional Middle Eastern kaffiyehs jump into the ocean with a US aircraft carrier in the background.

Another image, "No More Engines," shows an Iranian oil ship floating at sea with its back section totally blown up and covered in thick black smoke and flames.

Other graphics depict President Trump steering a naval warship and directing military forces like a battlefield commander, including one where he wears a hat with the phrase "FAFO."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that Iran's nuclear programme "has to come to an end" regardless of whether a diplomatic agreement is reached, as he prepared to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday (local time), while US officials signalled a pause in military action to allow diplomacy where as Iran vowed to strengthen its military preparedness.

Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu outlined what he believes would be required to end the conflict with Iran. "I think when this regime is either toppled or it's sufficiently weakened that it knows it has to end its nuclear program and has to change its course," Netanyahu said.

The Israeli Prime Minister indicated that, in his view, the war would effectively end only if Iran either undergoes a fundamental political change or abandons its nuclear programme and alters its regional policies.

"That's really what President Trump is trying to achieve. And I backed him fully... But one way or the other, they have to end their nuclear program. And with a deal or without a deal, that has to come to an end," he added.

Ahead of his departure for Washington, Netanyahu said Iran would be among the key issues during his talks with Trump.

"Tomorrow I will fly to Washington to meet, at his invitation, with President Trump, and afterwards to participate in the memorial service for a great friend of Israel, the late Senator Lindsey Graham. I will also discuss all pending issues with President Trump, including the situation in Iran," he said at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Day 147: Iran says military ready as Netanyahu heads to US

Day 146: Iran says it earned $11.5b in oil sales during the war

Day 145: US-Iran war escalates as Tehran targets US bases in Gulf

Day 144: House approves bid to limit war with Tehran as oil hits $100

Day 143: US tightens Iran blockade, redirects 9 commercial ships

Day 142: Air defences roar over Tehran on 11th night of strikes

Day 141: Iran president says country in 'full-scale war' with US

Day 140: US strikes Iran, Gulf states face missile threats as war risks spread