Security of vessels passing outside designated Hormuz routes is not guaranteed, Iranian authority says
Vessels passing outside routes set by the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a body set up by Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz, will not be guaranteed safe passage, the authority said in a post on X.
“Consequences arising from passage through unauthorised routes shall be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and vessel commander”, the PGSA said.
The PGSA’s warning came after British maritime agency UKMTO said that a cargo ship reported a suspected attack near Oman while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with US officials telling Reuters that Iran had fired on the ship.
Iran has not specifically commented on the incident. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said earlier that safe passage through the strait would only be possible through routes designated by Iran, adding that it would take action against vessels that failed to comply.
Hormuz evacuation suspended after attack in Gulf of Oman
The evacuation of ships through the Strait of Hormuz was suspended after an attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman that had crossed the vital waterway, said the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
“I have decided to temporarily pause (the evacuation plan’s) implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region,” IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement.
Iran fired on cargo ship, US officials tell Reuters
Iran fired on a cargo ship that had reported being hit by a projectile as it attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, two US officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The ship reported being struck on its starboard side by a projectile 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s port of Dahit, British navy agency UKMTO said.
Israel army says killed Hezbollah operatives in south Lebanon
The Israeli army said it had killed several suspected Hezbollah operatives on Thursday in two separate incidents around the so-called “security zone” its forces have established in southern Lebanon.
In the first case, the military said soldiers “identified five Hezbollah terrorists who posed a threat to them” in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, while in the second, they “identified an armed Hezbollah terrorist” around the strategic Ali al-Taher Ridge.
“Following the identifications, the Israeli Air Force and the ground forces fired toward the terrorists and eliminated them to remove the threat,” it said.
Italy, France agree on coalition to support Lebanon after UN mission ends
France and Italy want to set up a multinational coalition to succeed the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
“We want to launch a coalition for the post-UNIFIL arrangement, obviously in coordination with the European Union and the United Nations, to strengthen Lebanon’s sovereignty and that of its armed forces,” Macron said after talks with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon a red line for Tehran, says Iranian source
Any trade, investment in Iran ‘conditional and reversible’, Gulf FMs say
Iran proxies, missiles must be addressed for ‘lasting’ peace, Gulf FMs say
The Gulf’s top diplomats said that dealing with Iran’s proxies and missiles was key to lasting peace, and that any trade and investment with Tehran would be reversible and contingent on it respecting its deal with the US.
“The Ministers further emphasized that lasting regional peace and security requires addressing the full spectrum of Iran’s threats, including its ballistic missiles, drones, and support of proxies in the region,” they said in a joint statement following a meeting co-chaired by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“Any trade and investment with Iran is conditional and reversible, contingent on Iran’s compliance with the MOU and the final agreement, cessation of its destabilizing behavior, and creation of the conditions necessary for economic engagement,” they added.
Lebanon talks should be separate from other conflicts, US, Gulf nations say
The United States and its Gulf allies backed ongoing talks over Lebanon and said those negotiations should not be conditional on the outcomes of other conflicts, adding that all non-state armed groups should be disarmed.
IDF to stay in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza ‘security zones’, Israel says
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Israel opposed withdrawing from the “security zone” in Lebanon despite pressure to do so, adding that the military would remain in what he called “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza for as long as necessary and would not withdraw from them.
Iran, Oman to discuss future Strait of Hormuz arrangements, Iran FM says
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that Iran and Oman would hold talks “to define future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz” following a recent joint statement in Muscat.
In a post on X, Araghchi said he had a productive call with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and that the two countries were determined to pursue the discussions with their neighbours.
Oman told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gulf Arab ministers at a meeting on Thursday that future arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz would not involve transit tolls.
Energy, commodity prices fall after Iran deal but will take time to normalise, IMF says
The International Monetary Fund said that it has seen energy and commodity prices fall since the US-Iran agreement to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but it will take time for prices and Gulf trade flows to normalise.
IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said that in the next update of its World Economic Outlook on July 8, the Fund will decide whether to continue with the three growth scenarios that it presented in April that depended on Iran war outcomes.
As the Strait of Hormuz remained closed in May, keeping benchmark oil prices above $100 per barrel, Kozack had said that the global economy was moving from the more benign “reference forecast”, which had assumed a quick end to the conflict, to an “adverse scenario” with 2.5 percent global growth for 2025.
Vessel hit by ‘unknown projectile’ in Hormuz Strait, says UKMTO agency
A cargo ship was damaged after it was hit by an unknown projectile off the Omani coast in the Strait of Hormuz, a British maritime agency said, reporting no casualties.
“A cargo vessel has been hit on the starboard side by an unknown projectile, causing damage to the bridge. Master has reported no casualties and no environmental impact,” said the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding the incident occurred 7.5 nautical miles (14 kilometres) southeast of Dahit in Oman.
IMF says Lebanon’s GDP expected to contract in 2026 due to war
Lebanon’s gross domestic product is expected to contract in 2026, given the “very challenging” economic, social and humanitarian situation caused by the resumption of the war, the International Monetary Fund said.
IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozack told a regular news briefing that the global lender was engaged closely with Lebanese authorities to look at economic crisis management measures to mitigate the impact of the war, but gave no details.
The IMF also continued to work with authorities on more comprehensive reforms that could be supported ultimately by an IMF program, she said.
Iran FM says had ‘productive call’ with Omani FM
UKMTO says it received report of incident southeast of Oman’s Dahit
A cargo vessel was hit on its starboard side by an unknown projectile 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s Dahit, causing damage to the bridge but no casualties or environmental impact, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said.
Authorities are investigating the incident, UKMTO said, advising vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.
IDF will only withdraw troops from Lebanon after Hezbollah disarmed, Israel says
Israel said that it would only withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon after Hezbollah was disarmed, as the two countries engaged in US-mediated talks in Washington.
“We will not withdraw our forces from southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains a threat, are not disarmed and are not demilitarised,” David Mencer, a government spokesman, said in a briefing to journalists.
India restores non-domestic packed LPG supplies to pre-Iran crisis levels
India has restored non-domestic packed LPG supplies to pre-Iran crisis levels, the government said in a statement, adding that sectoral restrictions on such supplies have been withdrawn.
🎥 US promises to protect Gulf states’ interests in Iran talks
Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised Gulf allies of the United States on Wednesday that Washington would protect their interests as it seeks to hammer out a final settlement of the Middle East war in talks with Iran.
Rubio is on a regional tour to reassure the Gulf states, which were targeted by Tehran’s missiles and drones during the conflict and saw their crucial oil and gas shipments effectively cut off by an Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
During a visit to Kuwait City, Rubio said Washington would be on the same page as Gulf states as it wrangles with Iran over a permanent settlement to the conflict.
“We’re going to be completely aligned with our partners in the Gulf,” he said, adding that the United States would “engage them on conversations about every decision tha
