Iran, Russia to Conduct Joint Drills in the Sea of Oman 

This handout photo released by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)'s official website Sepanews on February 17, 2026, shows boats maneuvering around a tanker vessel during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Strait of Hormuz. (Sepahnews / AFP)
This handout photo released by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)'s official website Sepanews on February 17, 2026, shows boats maneuvering around a tanker vessel during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Strait of Hormuz. (Sepahnews / AFP)
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Iran, Russia to Conduct Joint Drills in the Sea of Oman 

This handout photo released by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)'s official website Sepanews on February 17, 2026, shows boats maneuvering around a tanker vessel during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Strait of Hormuz. (Sepahnews / AFP)
This handout photo released by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)'s official website Sepanews on February 17, 2026, shows boats maneuvering around a tanker vessel during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Strait of Hormuz. (Sepahnews / AFP)

Iran and Russia will conduct naval maneuvers in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, following the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva, Iranian media reported.

On Monday, the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, also launched exercises in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a challenge to US naval forces deployed in the region.

"The joint naval exercise of Iran and Russia will take place tomorrow (Thursday) in the Sea of Oman and in the northern Indian Ocean," the ISNA agency reported, citing drill spokesman, Rear Admiral Hassan Maghsoudloo.

"The aim is to strengthen maritime security and to deepen relations between the navies of the two countries," he said, without specifying the duration of the drill.

The war games come as Iran struck an upbeat tone following the second round of Oman-mediated negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday.

Previous talks between the two foes collapsed following the unprecedented Israeli strike on Iran in June 2025, which sparked a 12-day war that the United States briefly joined.

US President Donald Trump has deployed a significant naval force in the region, which he has described as an "armada."

Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, particularly during periods of tension with the United States, but it has never been closed.

A key passageway for global shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas, the Strait of Hormuz has been the scene of several incidents in the past and has returned to the spotlight as pressure has ratcheted amid the US-Iran talks.

Iran announced on Tuesday that it would partially close it for a few hours for "security" reasons during its own drills in the strait.



Report: Iran May Be Rebuilding Some of Its Nuclear Facilities

Image from Vantor of the Parchin complex (archive)
Image from Vantor of the Parchin complex (archive)
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Report: Iran May Be Rebuilding Some of Its Nuclear Facilities

Image from Vantor of the Parchin complex (archive)
Image from Vantor of the Parchin complex (archive)

Exclusive satellite images obtained by CNN from Vantor indicate that Iran may be attempting to rebuild its nuclear facilities.

A visual investigation conducted by the network revealed new activity at several nuclear and missile facilities across the country during late June and early July. The activity at the nuclear sites, in particular, raises questions about whether Tehran has violated the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the United States on June 17, in which it committed to maintaining the 'status quo' in its nuclear program and refraining from developing nuclear weapons.

For weeks, satellite imagery providers blocked images of the region following a request from the US government. However, CNN was able to analyze the images after these restrictions were briefly lifted, before some were reimposed as US military operations resumed.

The network detected significant activity at a site within the Parchin military complex known as ‘Taleghan 2,' which experts believe is used to store explosive materials linked to nuclear weapons development. An analysis of the site, conducted in cooperation with the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, showed repair and reconstruction work on several craters left by US and Israeli strikes, visible in images taken on June 22 and July 7.

At the Pickaxe Mountain site, suspected to be an underground nuclear facility, images taken on June 21 showed vehicles entering and exiting tunnels while the MoU was in effect.

A US Department of Defense official told CNN that the department would not discuss the circumstances of military operations or intelligence matters, in order to protect operational security.


Iran State Media Says Explosion in Eastern Tehran Province was Controlled Ammunition Disposal

Smoke rises from a fire caused by an explosion in Tehran (File photo - Reuters)
Smoke rises from a fire caused by an explosion in Tehran (File photo - Reuters)
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Iran State Media Says Explosion in Eastern Tehran Province was Controlled Ammunition Disposal

Smoke rises from a fire caused by an explosion in Tehran (File photo - Reuters)
Smoke rises from a fire caused by an explosion in Tehran (File photo - Reuters)

An explosion heard in the eastern part of Tehran province was caused by the controlled ‌disposal of ammunition ‌remaining from ‌the ⁠war, Iranian state ⁠media, citing a local official, said on Saturday.

The official said the operation posed ⁠no threat to ‌citizens and ‌that no incident ‌had occurred, according to Reuters.

Earlier on ‌Saturday, Iranian state media reported that an explosion was heard in ‌the eastern part of Tehran province, ⁠with residents ⁠of Pakdasht and Qiyamdasht reporting the blast while its source and exact location were not immediately known.


Ten Wounded as Russia Strikes Kyiv with Missiles

A sapper examines the impact site of a Russian missile in a residential area of Kyiv, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP)
A sapper examines the impact site of a Russian missile in a residential area of Kyiv, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP)
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Ten Wounded as Russia Strikes Kyiv with Missiles

A sapper examines the impact site of a Russian missile in a residential area of Kyiv, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP)
A sapper examines the impact site of a Russian missile in a residential area of Kyiv, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP)

Russia pummeled Ukraine’s capital with ballistic missiles early on Saturday, injuring at least 10 people, officials said, as Kyiv awaits fresh supplies of air defense munitions amid a shortage that has left it exposed to Russian attacks.

A Reuters witness heard a series of powerful explosions in the city in the ‌small hours of ‌the morning before the ‌air ⁠alert was announced.

Russia launched ⁠six ballistic missiles, another six cruise missiles and 121 drones, Ukraine's air force said, adding that it downed at least two cruise missiles and 111 drones.

Ukraine, which is critically low on munitions for its Patriot ⁠air defense systems, has been ‌largely unable to ‌down ballistic missiles, which travel at several times ‌the speed of sound, over the past ‌month.

Russia has stepped up attacks on the capital in recent weeks. So far this month, strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region have killed ‌more than 60 people.

Saturday's attack damaged a non-residential building in one district, ⁠while ⁠smoke was coming from another, and an office building was in flames as a result of the strike, the city's military administration said on the Telegram messaging app.

A transformer substation was on fire as well, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko, while windows were blown out in some residential buildings.

The Air Force said 11 locations were hit in total across Ukraine.