U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran with renewed military action on Sunday if Tehran-backed Hezbollah continues attacks from Lebanon, even as Vice President JD Vance held the first talks with Iranian officials under a week-old peace agreement in Switzerland.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said oil and petrochemical exports will resume under U.S. waivers, the naval blockade has been lifted, and some frozen Iranian assets have been released as part of an emerging agreement framework.
Araghchi also said a major reconstruction and development programme for Iran has been launched, according to Iranian media reports.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply on Sunday after Iran announced it had again closed the key maritime route, citing alleged Israeli and U.S. violations of an interim peace deal, according to shipping data.
Analytics firm Kpler said only five vessels passed through the strait on Sunday, down from 26 the previous day, including several large crude carriers transporting Saudi oil shipments.
The data may not capture vessels that switch off tracking systems while transiting the Gulf.
The reported closure follows Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declaring the waterway shut again on Saturday, though the U.S. military said commercial shipping was still operating.
Trade flows had briefly stabilised after a recent agreement to extend a ceasefire and reopen maritime access for negotiations.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry said an explosion occurred on Sunday (22 June) at a factory in Ras Laffan Industrial City, the site of the country’s main LNG processing facilities, but reported no injuries or gas leaks.
Earlier, a witness said a loud blast was heard in the Qatari capital Doha. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, and authorities have not yet provided further details.
Ras Laffan is a key hub for Qatar’s liquefied natural gas exports, making it strategically important to global energy markets.
A draft has been finalized regarding sanctions waivers for Iranian oil, a member of Iran's team negotiating with the U.S. told state media on Sunday.
They added that the waivers would be issued soon.
Over 25 million barrels of Iranian oil have passed through the virtual blockade line since Monday, the head of the Iranian National Oil Company Hamid Bovard told state TV on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday posted that the U.S. will resume attacks on Iran unless the Iranians can keep their Hezbollah allies in Lebanon from causing violence.
"Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!"
Iran announced it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Washington of failing to secure a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon, and said discussions on its nuclear programme would be postponed until the fighting ends.
The renewed closure of the crucial shipping route has disrupted tanker traffic and could drive oil prices higher when markets reopen. Despite Trump's warnings, Vance said the United States was seeking a new chapter in relations with Iran and expressed hope for progress through diplomacy.
Meanwhile, violence in Lebanon appeared to ease, with some displaced residents returning home, although Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli strikes killed 20 people on Saturday.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar sys...
Türkiye has taken a new technical step to facilitate direct trade with Armenia as part of the ongoing normalisation process between the two countries...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed a number of regional developments, transport connectivi...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar systems, as U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran. The IRGC also said two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
Türkiye has taken a new technical step to facilitate direct trade with Armenia as part of the ongoing normalisation process between the two countries.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed a number of regional developments, transport connectivity and the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia during talks in Berlin.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its latest review of Ukraine's financing programme, clearing the way for the immediate release of around $690 million in additional support. The latest disbursement brings total funding under the programme to about $2.2 billion.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen troops as Iran warned of further escalation.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar systems, as U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran. The IRGC also said two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices fell on Tuesday as markets balanced reports of renewed diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran with continued military escalation and fresh threats to global energy supplies.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen troops as Iran warned of further escalation.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will make his first trip to the White House this week to present a plan to U.S. President Donald Trump on how to disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and secure Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon.
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