UKMTO confirms vessel ablaze in Hormuz Strait after unknown projectile impact

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reports that the vessel burning off the Omani coast in the strait of Hormuz was hit by an unidentified projectile.

The crew safely left the ship and was picked up by a tug boat, UKMTO stated. The fire continues and the vessel remains adrift.

Iran Revolutionary Guard earlier asserted that two oil tankers were destroyed after trying to pass the southern route of the strait, yet no independent verification exists and it remains unclear if the IRGC referred to this ship.

Key events

4m ago Iran calls for IAEA response to US strike on nuclear site under construction
32m ago Iran foreign ministry notes ongoing diplomatic talks with US via mediators
1h ago UKMTO confirms vessel ablaze in Hormuz Strait after unknown projectile impact
3h ago Interim summary
3h ago Iran conflict discussed at Asean meetings
4h ago Rubio urges other nations to help safeguard Hormuz shipping lanes
5h ago Iran targets US military sites in Kuwait according to reports
6h ago Oil prices rise sharply amid fresh US-Iran clashes
7h ago US completes latest round of attacks
7h ago Iran warns no oil or gas will transit Hormuz if US aggression persists
8h ago Maritime agency reports vessel on fire in Hormuz Strait
8h ago Trump states US striking Iran very hard
9h ago Opening summary US launches ninth night of strikes on Iran

Iran presses IAEA to act over US strike on nuclear site under construction

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday urged the UN International Atomic Energy Agency to denounce the overnight US strikes on a nuclear power plant being built in Darkhovin.

Iran expects the IAEA board of governors and the director general who occasionally issues political remarks on the Iranian nuclear file to clearly condemn the US action Baghaei said during a press conference covered by AFP.

The IAEA had noted it was examining reports of the strike yet emphasized the site was in early construction stages and held no nuclear material during its last visit.

The agency added that director general Rafael Grossi repeats the appeal for military restraint near all nuclear related facilities.

Iran foreign ministry reports continued diplomatic contacts with US

Diplomatic messages continue between the US and Iran through intermediaries despite ongoing US strikes and Iranian Revolutionary Guard claims of targeting US military sites in other Gulf states Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told AFP at a Monday press conference.

We have received messages from mediators without entering specifics but the diplomatic channels have been active and ideas have been passed to us Baghaei said.

Baghaei added Iran will not permit the strait of Hormuz to threaten national security and remains committed to measures protecting sovereignty.

UKMTO confirms vessel ablaze in Hormuz Strait after unknown projectile impact

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reports that the vessel burning off the Omani coast in the strait of Hormuz was hit by an unidentified projectile.

The crew safely left the ship and was picked up by a tug boat UKMTO stated. The fire continues and the vessel remains adrift.

Iran Revolutionary Guard earlier asserted that two oil tankers were destroyed after trying to pass the southern route of the strait yet no independent verification exists and it remains unclear if the IRGC referred to this ship.

State news agency IRNA reports overnight US strikes hit multiple sites in Bushehr a southern Iranian port city home to the nations sole civilian nuclear plant according to AFP.

No details on casualties or damage were provided.

State news agency IRNA reports US strikes in northwestern Iran killed at least one person on Monday and injured several others according to AFP.

The strike occurred southwest of Tabriz Majid Farshi head of crisis management for East Azerbaijan province told IRNA.

Interim summary

For those joining now here is a recap of recent developments as US Iran tensions continue raising fears of wider war. It is 9.30am in Tehran and 2am in Washington DC.

US forces conducted a ninth straight night of strikes on Iran on Monday with confirmed American military deaths rising to three. The operations targeted degrading Irans capacity to attack commercial ships in the strait of Hormuz the US military Central Command said.
US missiles struck several Iranian cities early Monday per Irans semi official Tasnim news agency. Blasts were reported in Tabriz Chabahar Konarak Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini.
Iran Revolutionary Guard stated it struck US military targets in Kuwait and hit US aircraft at Jordans Aqaba airport with ballistic missiles while sirens sounded in Bahrain and the Guard announced a surprise attack on enemy special operations headquarters in Syrias Al Tanf area.
Donald Trump said the latest US strikes honored fallen service members. We hit them Iran very hard again tonight in honor of the probably three great patriots the president told reporters returning from the World Cup final.

The US military reported a service member killed on Saturday in northern Iraq during controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone and two personnel killed in Jordan the prior day from an Iranian attack. Total US deaths since fighting began reached 17 with over 420 wounded. Iran health ministry said Saturday 50 people killed and more than 500 injured in US strikes over three weeks.
The Royal Navys United Kingdom Maritime Operations Centre received a late Sunday report of a vessel on fire off Omani coast. The Revolutionary Guard later claimed two oil tankers were destroyed attempting southern strait transit. No independent confirmation followed.
The Guard said the strait stays unsafe while US aggression continues warning the passage will not be safe for petrochemical transit nor even a single drop of oil and gas. It also warned the US military to prepare for punitive action.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Iran uses the strait of Hormuz as leverage against the world and called on other nations to increase pressure protecting global shipping.
Oil prices rose in early Asian trade on Monday after latest US strikes and Hormuz tensions with Brent crude for September delivery up 2.72 percent to 90.50 dollars a barrel around 0100 GMT. It briefly exceeded 91 dollars its highest since June.

Iran conflict highlighted at Asean talks

South east Asias leading diplomats will voice concern over renewed Middle East hostilities when gathering in the Philippine capital Tuesday for discussions joined by western and Asian representatives including from the US China Russia and the EU.

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will convene first in Manila Tuesday to address among other issues the US Iran clashes sparking fears of full scale war. They intend to release a joint statement expressing alarm and urging both sides to restart talks two south east Asian diplomats told the Associated Press.

The fighting again endangers shipping in the strait of Hormuz the route for about 20 percent of global oil supplies before the conflict.

South east Asia a region exceeding 680 million people depends heavily on Middle East oil and gas and suffered from supply and price disruptions caused by the Iran war.

Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a national energy emergency in March to secure fuel food and essentials and curb hoarding.

Washington focus on the Iran war and shift of military resources to the Middle East raises worries about attention to Asia Pacific matters including China actions in the South China Sea and toward Taiwan.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov are among attendees.

Bahrain again reports air raid sirens sounding the third alert in roughly eight hours.

The interior ministry latest post on X urged residents to seek the nearest shelter.

The alert followed continued Iranian retaliatory strikes in the region after another US attack wave.

During the ninth night of US attacks on Iran state media reported explosions in Tabriz Chabahar Konarak Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini.

No immediate word came from Iran on casualties or damage.

A strike on Tabriz in northwest Iran signals expansion of US targets previously focused on the south and Hormuz area in recent days.

Kuwaits army stated air defenses are actively countering attacks from Iranian drones.

In a social media post the General Staff of the Army instructed citizens to follow security and safety guidance from authorities.

The statement followed Iranian Revolutionary Guards claims of striking US military targets in the country.

Rubio calls for other nations to assist in protecting Hormuz shipping

The US secretary of state said Iran uses the strait of Hormuz as leverage in the Middle East conflict and that other countries must increase efforts to safeguard global shipping.

It is clear that Iran at least some elements want to control the straits and hold that as leverage against the world Marco Rubio told reporters before traveling to the Philippines for Asean foreign ministers meetings.

The United States will do and continue to do what it needs to protect global shipping but other countries need to begin to step up and provide whether hardware or finances to help carry that burden.

When asked about a diplomatic solution Rubio said quoted by AFP I think we are always open to diplomacy. It has to be real. It has to be a deal they are willing to live by.

Iran reportedly strikes US military targets in Kuwait

Iran Revolutionary Guard has reportedly stated it hit US military targets in Kuwait with Fars news agency citing the Ali Al Salem air base as targeted.

The Kuwaiti army earlier said its air defenses responded to hostile drones from Iran.

The Islamic republic continues launching strikes around the Gulf in response to US attack waves as the nations move closer to full scale war after collapse of last months interim peace agreement.