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Tension Mounts Between Tehran, Baku Following IRGC Military Drills

Photo published by the IRGC websites of its ground forces during previous exercises near the Azerbaijani border.
Photo published by the IRGC websites of its ground forces during previous exercises near the Azerbaijani border.
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Tension Mounts Between Tehran, Baku Following IRGC Military Drills

Photo published by the IRGC websites of its ground forces during previous exercises near the Azerbaijani border.
Photo published by the IRGC websites of its ground forces during previous exercises near the Azerbaijani border.

Tension escalated between Iran and its neighbor Azerbaijan over statements by President Ilham Aliyev, in which he criticized Iran’s military exercise near his country’s borders.

In an interview with Turkish Anadolu agency on the occasion of the first anniversary of Azerbaijan’s liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh from the 30-year rule of Armenia with the support of Turkey, Aliyev pointed to the military maneuver, which Iran recently carried out near the Azerbaijani borders, saying: “This is a very surprising event. Each country can conduct military exercises on its territory. This, of course, is its sovereign right. At the same time, analyzing this at a certain point of time, we see that this has not happened before.”

He continued: “Why now? Why exactly on our border? These questions are being asked by the Azerbaijani public, not me… They are also asking why no exercises were carried out in this region during the years of occupation? Why weren’t any exercises held when the Armenians were in Jabrayil, Zangilan and Fuzuli? Why are they being held after we have liberated our lands and put an end to 30 years of occupation? These are legitimate questions.”

In response to Aliyev’s statements, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that the military maneuvers of the IRGC ground forces, which are conducted in areas bordering northern Iran, were a sovereign matter for the sake of peace and stability in the entire region. He warned that Iran “will not tolerate the presence of the Zionist entity (Israel) near its borders, and will take what it deems necessary for its security.”

In his interview with Anadolu, the president of Azerbaijan also commented on recent reports about Iranian trucks illegally crossing into the Karabakh region.

He said: “This is not the first time that Iranian trucks have entered the Karabakh region. This has happened several times during the occupation. These trucks went there on a regular basis, and we are aware of that. But, of course, there was no exact information, as accurate as the latest report. Taking this into account, we expressed our dissatisfaction to the Iranian side through various channels. But this process continued.”

“We hoped this would be stopped. However, from Aug. 11 to Sept. 11, about 60 trucks from Iran illegally entered Karabakh again. To prevent this, we already switched to specific action,” the president added, noting that his country installed customs and police checkpoints to control the road leading to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan.

“They also have to pay a duty. Don’t we pay a duty when we travel to a foreign country? We do. They are using the territory of Azerbaijan, so aren’t they supposed to pay?” He asked.

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World

Trump Wants South Carolina Governor to Appoint Graham’s Sister to Serve Remainder of Late Senator’s Term

President Donald Trump listens to Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 28, 2023, in Columbia (AP) 
President Donald Trump listens to Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 28, 2023, in Columbia (AP) 
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Trump Wants South Carolina Governor to Appoint Graham’s Sister to Serve Remainder of Late Senator’s Term

President Donald Trump listens to Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 28, 2023, in Columbia (AP) 
President Donald Trump listens to Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 28, 2023, in Columbia (AP) 

The sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham is weighing on Congress as it returned from a two-week holiday break on Monday to grapple with key defense and national security legislation during a compressed four-week summer work period.

The Senate opened on Monday with Graham's desk draped in black with a vase holding white flowers atop it.

Graham died late on Saturday. His sudden death came shortly after he returned to Washington from a trip to Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump said Monday he wants South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to appoint Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve the remainder of the late senator’s term which ends next January.

“I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,” Trump said in a post on social media. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”

The senator played major role in critical negotiations with Democrats and members of his own party to resolve key legislative issues.

Following his death, Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren posted on X: “Even though we disagreed on much, he was always willing to negotiate, with humor and wit.”

Graham’s absence deprives the Senate of a reliable Republican vote as the US holds its federal elections next November. Also, the party is scrambling to contain a widening rift and regain Trump’s confidence due to a clash over surveillance, Iran and SAVE America Act.

Graham served as a liaison between Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the White House, smoothing over tensions regarding Trump's demands to pass the SAVE America Act and attach it to budget reconciliation packages.

Praising Graham on Sunday, Thune called him “a trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others, and numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel.”

As chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Graham sought a new budget package to circumvent opposition from Democrats and pass Republican priorities such as additional defense funding, new tax cuts and some Trump-backed voter restrictions.

In the wake of his death, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson is poised to take over the Budget Committee.

Graham’s Replacement

Republican South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Monday appointed the sister of Graham to fill his vacant Senate seat until the first week of January.

Darline Graham Nordone is expected to be sworn in as early as this week, allowing Thune to maintain Republicans' ‌53-47 majority in the Senate.

She will fill out her brother's term, which ends the first week of January, when a new Congress will be sworn-in.

South Carolina's Republican Party will hold a special primary election on August 11 with a runoff on August 25 if no candidate wins a majority. Whoever captures the party nomination will face a difficult race against Democrat Annie Andrews in the November 3 general election.

A number of South Carolina Republicans have already expressed interest in taking over Graham’s seat, including Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman.

World

US Strikes Iran for Third Day, Will Reimpose Blockade

This image from video released by US Central Command, shows an explosion at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, Iran, as three Corsair unmanned surface vessels, also called one-way attack surface drones, fired by the US military, hit the port July 12, 2026. (US Central Command via AP)
This image from video released by US Central Command, shows an explosion at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, Iran, as three Corsair unmanned surface vessels, also called one-way attack surface drones, fired by the US military, hit the port July 12, 2026. (US Central Command via AP)
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US Strikes Iran for Third Day, Will Reimpose Blockade

This image from video released by US Central Command, shows an explosion at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, Iran, as three Corsair unmanned surface vessels, also called one-way attack surface drones, fired by the US military, hit the port July 12, 2026. (US Central Command via AP)
This image from video released by US Central Command, shows an explosion at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, Iran, as three Corsair unmanned surface vessels, also called one-way attack surface drones, fired by the US military, hit the port July 12, 2026. (US Central Command via AP)

The United States launched a third night of strikes on Iran as President Donald Trump planned to reimpose a blockade Tuesday on Iranian ports and floated a 20 percent fee on cargo in the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said a deal with Iran was still possible even as attacks were carried out, with Iran striking two ships in the strategic waterway and killing one crew member, according to the United Arab Emirates.

The US military said its five-hour mission hit targets across Iran including coastal Bushehr and Bandar Abbas to "degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping".

After the strikes, Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced they had in turn fired missiles and drones on Bahrain.

"We're going to hit them very hard tonight, and we're going to hit them hard tomorrow," Trump said at the White House on Monday.

Trump's declaration on the Hormuz blockade followed US and Iranian attacks of a scale unseen since an April ceasefire in the Middle East conflict, adding to doubts about efforts to bring a permanent end to the war.

Iran started blocking the strait after US-Israel attacks in February, which prompted Washington's blockade on Tehran's ports -- but restrictions eased after the sides agreed a preliminary deal in June.

Trump said Monday that the United States was "taking over" the strait and would slap a levy of 20 percent on all cargo shipped through it, in an announcement that drew mockery from Iran and accusations of "piracy".

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran's ports on the waterway would be blockaded from 2000 GMT on Tuesday.

Oil prices shot up more than nine percent Monday over fears of renewed conflict and rose again Tuesday, piling on more than one percent.

Tehran launched attacks on other US allies in the region, including Jordan, which said it had shot down four missiles from Iran.

These attacks came after Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced strikes on Monday on Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Oman.

- Resumed conflict -

Trump formally notified Congress last week that the United States had resumed military conflict against Iran, the White House confirmed to AFP, giving the Pentagon an additional 60 days to operate in the region without congressional approval.

In addition to the moves in Hormuz, the US president also threatened to destroy Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear site near Natanz where Western intelligence suspects Iran is building an undeclared enrichment facility.

"Tell the Iranians to be ready. Let them know we're coming (and) there's not a damn thing they can do about it," he told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Trump declared on Truth Social that the United States would be "known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT'" and levy a 20 percent fee on all cargo shipped through the waterway.

While Iran's ports would again be blockaded, Trump said "all other countries will have fair and open use of the strait".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded mockingly on X that Trump was "absolutely right" that whoever guarantees safe passage should be compensated -- but that Tehran would charge less.

"20% is of course too much," he said.

Washington has vehemently opposed Tehran's desire to charge tolls in the strait, which international law generally forbids.

- 'In crisis' -

Despite all signs to the contrary, Trump said Monday that a deal with Tehran to end the war was still possible.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said earlier Monday that the June memorandum of understanding that formed the basis for the negotiations and lifted the US blockade was "in crisis".

Baqaei said Iran would ignore its obligations under the deal if the Washington did the same, but added that Tehran was continuing talks with mediators from Qatar, Pakistan and Oman to prevent further escalation.

Bader Al-Saif, an associate fellow at Chatham House, said the escalating attacks would merely delay a permanent agreement.

"Both sides want to end the impasse on their own terms, and they are increasingly finding it difficult to do so," he said.

"Hence the return to and increase in the scale of attacks."

World

New Era for Gibraltar as Border Controls with Spain Set to End

Thousands of workers who cross daily between Spain and Gibraltar will no longer need to go through border controls. JORGE GUERRERO / AFP
Thousands of workers who cross daily between Spain and Gibraltar will no longer need to go through border controls. JORGE GUERRERO / AFP
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New Era for Gibraltar as Border Controls with Spain Set to End

Thousands of workers who cross daily between Spain and Gibraltar will no longer need to go through border controls. JORGE GUERRERO / AFP
Thousands of workers who cross daily between Spain and Gibraltar will no longer need to go through border controls. JORGE GUERRERO / AFP

Thousands of workers crossing daily between Spain and Gibraltar will enter a new era of easier travel on Wednesday, as border checks that have long been a source of tension are lifted.

Home to only around 40,000 people, the tiny self-governing British territory at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula relies on about 15,500 daily cross-border workers from Spain, who make up nearly half of its workforce, said AFP.

During rush hours, long lines can form at the land border and documents are checked -- especially during periods of tension between Britain and Spain, which claims sovereignty over Gibraltar.

But under an agreement reached between Brussels and London following Britain's exit from the European Union, border controls between Gibraltar and Spain will be eliminated from July 15.

A smoother border will make it easier for Gibraltar businesses to recruit and retain workers who live in Spain, as the "hassle" of crossing the frontier can be "significant", said Owen Smith, head of the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses.

"It's been a big factor in retention, and certainly a fluid border is going to make life much easier," he told AFP, calling it "very, very positive".

The agreement, which will be signed on Tuesday in Brussels, will align Gibraltar with the rules of Europe's passport-free Schengen travel area.

It was reached after years of talks between Spain, Britain and the EU.

Travelers arriving from outside the Schengen zone will still have to show their passports to officials at Gibraltar's airport and port.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is set to visit the frontier zone on Wednesday, where workers have in recent weeks taken down the old chain-link fencing between Gibraltar and Spain.

He has hailed the new arrangements as bringing down "the last wall" inside the EU, saying they would create a zone of shared prosperity.

- 'Bygone era of friction'

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has described the agreement as removing "the physical barriers of a bygone era of friction" while keeping "the keys to our own front door".

The border was closed by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1969 after Gibraltar, which relies on London for defense and foreign policy, voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to remain British.

The closure, which lasted 13 years, cut off the daily movement of workers from Spain into Gibraltar and separated families.

Since then, long queues have repeatedly formed at the Gibraltar-Spain border when diplomatic tensions over the territory's sovereignty have led to tighter controls by Spain.

"It is important that this sword of Damocles disappears," said Manuel Triano Paulete, secretary general of the CCOO trade union in Spain's Campo de Gibraltar region which surrounds the British territory, saying cross-border workers often did not know how long it would take them to get to work.

With an economy based on financial services and online gaming, Gibraltar -- which covers just under seven square kilometers (2.7 square miles) -- has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

It has long been a lifeline for people who live in Campo de Gibraltar, which has historically had one of Spain's highest jobless rates.

London and Madrid have disputed control of Gibraltar since the tiny territory was ceded to Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.