Iran’s powerful, multi‑purpose security force
The United States has carried out repeated air and naval strikes across Iran since mid‑July, including attacks on coastal surveillance, air defences and transport links, while Iran has launched missile and drone strikes on US bases and Gulf allies and warned it will retaliate further. The fragile June memorandum to pause the war has largely collapsed and the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted (19 July 2026).
The Labour leadership has chosen Andy Burnham as its new leader. He has pledged to recalibrate the party and steer the country amid economic strain. The process has moved quickly, with Starmer stepping down and Burnham moving into Downing Street. Government planning is underway as Burnham outlines his team and policy direction.
The United States has intensified strikes against Iran to degrade its ability to threaten civilian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has responded with missiles and drones against Gulf states and threats to close the strait. The interim US-Iran truce appears increasingly fragile as both sides escalate.
The United States has escalated strikes against Iran, while Iran and its IRGC retaliate with missiles and drones targeting Gulf bases and shipping. The renewed hostilities threaten global energy flows as both sides threaten further action and diplomatic talks remain fragile. The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the crisis.
Britain has expanded counter-state threat powers to target proxy groups and those funding them after a spate of antisemitic attacks linked to Iran and other foreign actors. The measures will criminalise support for designated organisations and enable authorities to act against state-backed proxies.
The latest exchanges between the United States and Iran have escalated, with U.S. forces striking Iranian targets following the downing of an Apache helicopter. Tehran has responded with missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases and is threatening further action as diplomacy remains uncertain.
Commercial traffic has resumed through the Strait of Hormuz since a US–Iran memorandum, but volumes have stayed far below prewar levels. Ship trackers report partial recoveries, 'dark' sailings with transponders off, continued use of routes close to Iran and Oman, and large backlogs as insurers and shippers wait for demining and clear rules.
The United States has launched strikes on Iran, targeting surveillance, communications and air-defence sites, in response to Iran’s downing of a US Apache helicopter. Iran has retaliated with attacks on US bases and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. The crisis has drawn in regional partners and heightened energy-market volatility as leaders promise further action.
The UAE is reported to have agreed to unlock billions of dollars of Iranian assets as part of a tentative peace framework with the United States. The UAE denies releasing funds, while Washington and Tehran remain engaged in talks that could see tens of billions in Iranian revenues unfrozen. Reports vary on amounts and timing, prompting swift official rebuttals.
The US Department of Homeland Security has allowed Iran's national football team to enter the United States two days before its World Cup match in Seattle, but officials must still leave the country the evening of the game. Iran has criticised tighter travel rules that forced the squad to base in Tijuana and return to Mexico immediately after earlier matches.
Iranian supporters have defied FIFA’s flag ban at World Cup venues, displaying pre-revolutionary banners and symbols during matches in the United States, while demonstrators outside call for change in Tehran.
A 20-year-old man has been charged with arson in connection with the December 2024 blaze at the Adass Israel Synagogue. The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team says the suspect was arrested in Melbourne and faces new charges as the investigation continues, alongside earlier arrests of two co-accused. Australian authorities have tied the incident to antisemitic attacks linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which Tehran denies.
Three or four covert Iraqi cells, each around 10 fighters, have conducted at least seven drone attacks on Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE from desert areas near Basra and Samawa between 20 April and 17 May. The groups report directly to Iran's IRGC and operate outside the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, with Baghdad pledging to prevent Iraqi territory from being used for hostile acts.
The US and Iran have signed a preliminary agreement and opened a 60-day negotiating window that has paused charges through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and Oman have formed a working group to study future administration and service fees. Shipping has begun to return but remains well below prewar levels while demining and safety work continues.
The UN's International Maritime Organization has paused its evacuation of around 600 stranded ships and 11,000 seafarers after a vessel was struck off Oman's coast on Thursday. The attack, which multiple maritime sources say likely involved a drone or unknown projectile, has prompted fresh warnings from Iran and halted the IMO operation while safety guarantees are rechecked.
The US and Iran have moved toward a formal ceasefire and negotiations. Gulf states are expanding ties with new partners, reinforcing regional autonomy, while warning against tolls on the Hormuz Strait and pressuring for broader security guarantees.
ASIO has disclosed that an Iran-based Australian citizen orchestrated a Bondi firebombing and a former Australian resident in Iraq directed a Melbourne synagogue attack. Burgess links these incidents to the IRGC and warns of a broader danger, urging tolerance to curb antisemitism and violence.
The Iran war has continued with the regime maintaining control despite international pressure. Diaspora protests on American soil and crackdowns on religious minorities signal a protracted crisis. Analysts say Tehran’s leadership remains intact while Western actors reassess their strategy and sanctions relief is debated amid reconstruction plans.
The United States has reiterated that international waterways must remain free of charges as Gulf partners push back against any tolling plan. Rubio has toured the Gulf amid a flurry of developments including a new shipping corridor near Oman, a temporary halt to evacuation efforts, and ongoing negotiations with Iran over a preliminary peace framework. The UN has paused evacuation plans for mariners in the Strait of Hormuz, while Oman coordinates a temporary route with the IMO.
A 39-year-old dual Iranian-Turkish national has been arrested in Montenegro for mass hacking against more than 150 U.S. universities. Authorities say the data from intrusions was used by Iran’s IRGC and Iranian universities. Extradition proceedings will determine the suspect’s fate.
CENTCOM says US aircraft have struck Iranian missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar sites after Tehran’s drone attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responds with attacks on US positions. The ceasefire framework and interim deal are under renewed strain as global oil flows through Hormuz face new uncertainties.
The Strait of Hormuz confrontation has intensified as Iran rejects foreign oversight and launches drone and missile strikes. A US-backed maritime route near Oman is expanding, provoking Tehran while top powers push for a ceasefire. Kuwait, Bahrain and other Gulf states report attacks and air defenses intercepting missiles and drones; Washington and Tehran trade retaliatory strikes.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated as U.S. and Iranian forces exchange strikes after Iran targeted shipping in the Gulf. The United States has launched airstrikes on Iranian missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar sites, while Iran has declared it will continue to defend its shipping routes. Bahrain and Kuwait report drone and missile activity without immediate damage. The situation follows a fragile ceasefire agreement signed last month and ongoing debates over regional security and commercial navigation.
Vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz have risen this week amid shifting navigation guidance and ongoing tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Oman. Observers report mixed routes with a northern Iranian corridor and a southern Omani corridor, while the broader risk to shipping remains elevated.
Technical-level talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan have continued between Iran and U.S. teams in Doha and Geneva to implement the Islamabad memorandum. Delegations have agreed a monitoring channel, discussed phased release of frozen Iranian funds and arrangements for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while disagreements persist over inspections and control of the strait.
Iran has exited the World Cup after a group-stage finish that left them short of the knockout rounds. Reported tensions with the US have shaped their preparation, with a relocation of training to Mexico and limited access to the United States ahead of games in Los Angeles and Seattle.
The US and Iran are pursuing diplomatic channels while monitoring the risk of renewed conflict. Indirect negotiations in Doha are ongoing, with Washington exploring options beyond the 60-day deadline. Officials emphasize that energy routes remain a focal point as talks continue.
Israel maintains a security zone in southern Lebanon while pressuring Hezbollah to disarm. Netanyahu says Israel will stay until the threat is eliminated, amid a new framework with Lebanon and ongoing US talks with Iran. The situation has hardened, with Israeli forces showing a long-term posture and Hezbollah resisting demilitarisation.
Tensions escalate between Washington and Riyadh after Saudi Arabia blocks U.S. use of its bases and airspace for Project Freedom, prompting a rethink of the U.S. Gulf military footprint even as officials insist the partnership remains strong.
Federal authorities allege that charity fronts diverted funds to Hamas-linked figures and to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with cryptocurrency transfers totaling over $30,000 and dozens of transfers to Gaza. The cases involve a Rochester-area mother who led an anti-Israel group and faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Arista, a container ship linked to Iran via a false Comoros flag, has been stuck in the Strait of Hormuz for months. Sanctions tied to an oil-smuggling network connected to-advisor Shamkhani are in focus as Tehran asserts control over the strait amid ongoing Western actions in the region.
The United States has carried out strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz in response to a drone attack on a Panama-flagged tanker. Iran has retaliated with missiles and drones against U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain as indirect talks continue in Doha. A 60-day truce signed mid-June is nearing expiration, with no substantive progress on key issues.
Iran’s Supreme Leader’s envoy defends the MoU with Washington as Tehran faces persistent conservative criticism. Iran says it is preparing for a broader, unified front against perceived U.S. and Israeli pressure while negotiating teams pursue a ceasefire and longer-term settlement. The US and Iran remain engaged, with regional actors warning of renewed tensions.
Iran is coordinating a multi-city funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Mojtaba Khamenei absent from public view. State media show three sons near the coffins as crowds gather, while officials plan mass processions to Qom, Najaf, Karbala and Mashhad amid a fragile ceasefire and renewed tensions with the US and Israel.
Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies unfold across Mashhad, Tehran and beyond as Iran’s leadership figures gather for a six‑day event. Mojtaba Khamenei remains absent, fueling questions about his health and authority as regional leaders project unity amid ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.
The US and Iran have exchanged fresh strikes this weekend and on Monday, reversing a recent interim ceasefire and re‑opening doubt over control of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire "over," ordered further strikes and revoked a temporary oil waiver. Oil has jumped into the high $70s–$80s and global markets have fallen.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as US strikes on Iran escalate, prompting a renewed naval blockade and Iranian retaliation. Trump says he will replace a 20% fee with trade deals, while Tehran vows to respond to perceived Western interference.
Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad closes a week of state-led mourning and public displays amid renewed clashes between the US and Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei remains out of public view after his father’s death, and security measures center on limiting exposure as regional tensions intensify.
The United States has launched a wave of strikes on Iran after attacks on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliates by targeting US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait. Oil prices have risen amid renewed fighting, and talks toward a ceasefire appear fragile as both sides accuse the other of violations.
Iran has continued attacks on US bases across the Gulf region, targeting Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman with missiles and drones. US-led airstrikes have responded with approximately 90 targets hit in Iran as the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of the conflict. Regional leaders urge restraint while diplomacy is pursued.
Iran and the United States have issued conflicting narratives over merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides threatening retaliation while diplomacy persists through mediators. The new Iranian supreme leader’s son has issued vows of vengeance, while Western leaders weigh potential military and diplomatic paths amid ongoing talks.
The Strait of Hormuz has seen a sharp drop in vessel traffic as renewed US-Iran actions inflame the region. Iran asserts control over the waterway; Western powers push for free passage. The latest strikes follow attacks on three vessels near Oman, and data shows traffic through the strait has plunged from its pre-conflict normal.
The government has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right (IMCR) and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps as national security threats. Ministers have said the measures will criminalise support, extend policing powers and allow prosecutors to pursue those who carry out or direct sabotage in the UK. Police have arrested a suspect, Vahid Aberi, and carried out searches in Liverpool and Birmingham; he will appear in court in London.
Reports show a covert operation aimed at grooming Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran’s leader has faltered. Ahmadinejad has been moved between locations under IRGC custody, with fresh questions about Israel’s role and the broader implications for Iran’s leadership and regional stability.
The Strait of Hormuz is open, but tensions have escalated as President Trump reinstates a blockade and proposes a 20% toll on cargo. Oil prices jump again amid new threats and retaliatory strikes; markets and allies react to the developing standoff.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as the United States reinstates a de facto blockade and Iran asserts control measures. Trump has declared the U.S. will guard safe passage, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says Tehran controls the strait amid ongoing strikes and maritime disruptions affecting global oil flows.
The US has intensified strikes on Iran while stockpiles are being depleted; defense contractors are urged to accelerate production as the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit highlights the broader risks to national security.
The region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks focused on control of the Strait of Hormuz. The collapse of a ceasefire has left no clear end in sight. U.S. airstrikes have targeted Iranian infrastructure while Iran has responded with strikes and ship disruptions; oil prices have surged accordingly.
The Islamic Republic has discussed a possible move with its Houthi allies, and Tehran has informed the group recently. The Houthis are said to be prepared to act near Bab al-Mandeb, risking disruptions to Red Sea shipping and adding pressure to global energy markets as tensions with the United States escalate.
The conflict between the US and Iran has intensified after a fragile ceasefire collapsed. US and partner forces have conducted strikes against Iranian targets, while Iran has retaliated with attacks on US bases and allied facilities. Two US service members have been killed in Jordan, with others wounded or missing amid ongoing missile and drone exchanges.