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Iran Fires Two Missiles at Commercial Ships in Strait of Hormuz, Axios Report

Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters) 
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters) 
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Iran Fires Two Missiles at Commercial Ships in Strait of Hormuz, Axios Report

Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters) 
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters) 

Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired at least two missiles at commercial ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, Axios reported, citing two US officials.

Two commercial ships suffered significant damage but had no casualties, the report said, citing a US official.

Separately, Britain's maritime security agency said a tanker caught fire after being hit by an unknown projectile early on Tuesday.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident took place eight nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, according to AFP.

“A tanker has reported being hit by an unknown projectile on the port side causing a fire, whilst travelling southbound,” UKMTO said in a post on X.

The agency said there were no reports of casualties or environmental damage.

“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO,” the agency added, saying authorities were investigating.

Since March, a number of commercial vessels came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz when Iran blockaded the waterway in response to US-Israeli attacks.

In return, the United States imposed its own naval blockade and later launched retaliatory strikes against Iran after accusing Tehran of targeting commercial shipping.

Maritime traffic resumed after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the strategic route.

However, Iran has insisted there will be no return to pre-war arrangements, under which vessels could pass freely through the strait.

Tehran has warned ships against using routes outside a corridor it has authorized along its coastline.

 

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World

Iran Issues Security Directives to Control Narrative Around Khamenei Funeral

Satellite image of Tehran’s Grand Mosalla during the funeral ceremony for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, July 5, 2026. (Planet Labs/Reuters) 
Satellite image of Tehran’s Grand Mosalla during the funeral ceremony for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, July 5, 2026. (Planet Labs/Reuters) 
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Iran Issues Security Directives to Control Narrative Around Khamenei Funeral

Satellite image of Tehran’s Grand Mosalla during the funeral ceremony for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, July 5, 2026. (Planet Labs/Reuters) 
Satellite image of Tehran’s Grand Mosalla during the funeral ceremony for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, July 5, 2026. (Planet Labs/Reuters) 

Iran’s security agencies have ordered media outlets and public relations departments at state institutions to adhere to a unified framework when covering news and analysis related to the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in an effort to tightly manage the public narrative during one of the country’s most sensitive political moments since the leadership transition.

The directives, obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, instruct media organizations to reinforce specific messaging, remove accounts that deviate from the official narrative, and portray the funeral as proof of the continuity of the leadership and the resilience of the political system in the face of what the document describes as the enemy’s “cognitive warfare.”

The document treats the funeral as a political, security, and media event simultaneously. It instructs outlets to depict public attendance as a unique “human shield” and as a “strategic declaration of loyalty” to Khamenei’s legacy and the Iranian Revolution’s “strategic depth.”

Media observers in Tehran said the directives reflect an effort to shape public opinion and curb media pluralism during a delicate transitional period.

The guidance requires coverage to revolve around three themes: “continuity of leadership,” “continuity of resistance,” and “a bright future.” It warns that inconsistent messaging would create space for competing narratives and urges all media to adopt a unified account on behalf of what it calls the “Front of the Revolution.”

The document also calls for highlighting the attendance of foreign delegations and republishing favorable analyses from Western media in domestic outlets as evidence of the success of Iran’s public diplomacy and the failure of efforts to isolate the country despite sanctions.

It instructs media to counter arguments by supporters of the former Pahlavi monarchy while avoiding defensive responses, instead emphasizing what it describes as the regime’s achievements in the nuclear, missile, and regional arenas.

Emphasis is placed on rebutting narratives of a “succession vacuum” and an “uncertain future.” The directives call for calm, well-documented explanations of Iran’s constitutional succession process to prevent what they describe as a cascading collapse in public confidence.

The guidance also bans coverage that could inflame political or sectarian divisions, urging media to stress national unity and consensus.

Media are further instructed to portray the funeral crowds as a historic display comparable to the 1979 Iranian Revolution and a decisive rebuttal to predictions of state collapse. They are encouraged to use statistics, photographs, and field reports to project national strength and cohesion, while incorporating deterrent messages emphasizing Iran’s military readiness and continued commitment to the “path of resistance.”

Finally, the directives warn against what they describe as pessimistic analyses or forecasts rooted in fear and uncertainty, urging media instead to promote an image of “a proud and advancing Iran” through what the document calls the “engineering of hope,” while affirming that “Iran’s future is bright and remains connected to the path of the Imam and the leadership.”

 

 

World

Iran Foreign Minister Says US Threats are an Impediment to Deal-making

A handout photo made available by the Iranian foreign ministry office shows Iranian Foreign Minister speaking during a meeting with foreign ambassador and diplomats at the foreign ministry office, in Tehran, Iran, 16 June 2026.EPA/IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICE HANDOUT
A handout photo made available by the Iranian foreign ministry office shows Iranian Foreign Minister speaking during a meeting with foreign ambassador and diplomats at the foreign ministry office, in Tehran, Iran, 16 June 2026.EPA/IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICE HANDOUT
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Iran Foreign Minister Says US Threats are an Impediment to Deal-making

A handout photo made available by the Iranian foreign ministry office shows Iranian Foreign Minister speaking during a meeting with foreign ambassador and diplomats at the foreign ministry office, in Tehran, Iran, 16 June 2026.EPA/IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICE HANDOUT
A handout photo made available by the Iranian foreign ministry office shows Iranian Foreign Minister speaking during a meeting with foreign ambassador and diplomats at the foreign ministry office, in Tehran, Iran, 16 June 2026.EPA/IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICE HANDOUT

Talks to reach a final deal between Tehran and Washington won't start if US threats continue, Iran's foreign minister said ‌on Tuesday, ‌following US President ‌Donald ⁠Trump's threat to "finish ⁠the job" if a deal is not made.

"Negotiations on final deal will ⁠not commence if ‌threats continue. ‌Honor your signature," ‌Abbas Araghchi ‌wrote in a post on X.

Araghchi's post was referring to ‌an interim deal signed last month by ⁠Iran ⁠and the US that calls upon both sides to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other.

World

NATO Allies Seek to Win over Trump after Iran Ire

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks during a media conference at the International Media Center ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks during a media conference at the International Media Center ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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NATO Allies Seek to Win over Trump after Iran Ire

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks during a media conference at the International Media Center ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks during a media conference at the International Media Center ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

NATO allies will showcase surging defense spending at a summit in Türkiye’s capital Ankara on Tuesday as they hope to placate US President Donald Trump after his fury over Europe's response to the war with Iran.

The two-day gathering at Türkiye’s sprawling presidential palace comes a year after NATO members pledged to ramp up security-related spending to five percent of GDP under pressure from the US leader, said AFP.

NATO chief Mark Rutte insists European countries are "delivering" on their promise by bolstering military budgets and moving to take more responsibility for the defense of their continent in the face of Russia.

"Just one year later, we already see transformational progress," Rutte told journalists in Ankara on the eve of the summit.

Trump departed Washington for the key summit late Monday, travelling with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in tow.

In a bid to impress the US leader, NATO has lined up a series of headline-grabbing figures.

"This is showtime," a senior European diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

At an industry forum on Tuesday ahead of the main summit, leaders are set to unveil new arms deals worth tens of billions to show Trump they're delivering on their words.

Underscoring that push, Canada announced on Monday that it had selected Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems to build its new fleet of submarines, a multi-billion-dollar program Ottawa framed as part of a broader effort to deepen defense ties with European NATO allies.

But Trump -- still smarting after European countries imposed restrictions on US forces using bases to attack Iran -- has spent the run-up to the summit slamming allies for not moving fast enough for his liking.

"Ridiculous for the U.S.A. to continue along this one-sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal. They were not there for us!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social last week.

- 'Real shift' -

European leaders are aiming at least to avoid a bust-up with the mercurial US leader that could deal a further blow to NATO's credibility after Trump repeatedly cast doubt on the US commitment to protecting its allies.

Diplomats are banking on Trump's good relationship with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and an unstinting charm offensive by NATO chief Rutte, to keep his mood in check.

But with Trump having had fallings out with a string of other leaders -- most recently Italy's Giorgia Meloni -- there are plenty irritants that could ignite his anger.

Seeking to show willingness on Iran, European allies spearheaded by France and Britain have put together a potential naval mission to help in the Strait of Hormuz and countries have shifted vessels closer to the region to be ready.

But the situation remains volatile and the Europeans want clarity on how a fragile US deal with Iran is panning out before sending in their navies.

While they'll be hoping that Trump strikes a conciliatory tone, European leaders have begun to come to terms with the reality that the US is inexorably pulling back from their alliance.

Washington has been clear it wants its allies to take the lead on the conventional defense of the continent and recently announced it was cutting back the assets it makes available to NATO commanders.

European nations will look to prove they're ready to play a greater role while also trying to keep Trump, and the vast might of the US military, as engaged as possible.

"All of this is evidence of a real shift in mindset," Rutte said. "This is NATO 3.0. A stronger Europe in a stronger NATO."

- 'Strong decisions' -

Beyond taking greater responsibility for their own defense, European countries have also taken over the support of Ukraine almost entirely as Trump has wound back US aid.

President Volodymyr Zelensky -- who will attend the leaders dinner on Tuesday -- will score a commitment from his European backers at NATO to keep at least 70 billion euros ($80 billion) of military aid flowing to Kyiv each year in both 2026 and 2027.

Zelensky -- who is set to hold talks with Trump at the Ankara summit -- urged the alliance to take "strong decisions" on boosting Ukraine's air defenses after a devastating Russian blitz killed nearly 30 people.

The Ukrainian leader will look to convince Trump -- who held a phone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin ahead of the gathering -- that Kyiv is turning the tide in the war and that he should pressure Moscow back into serious peace negotiations.