Explosive-laden drone hits Kurdish opposition group camp in Iraq

An explosive-laden drone has hit a camp belonging to an Iranian Kurdish opposition group in Iraq's Kurdistan region, causing a fire.

Iraqi security sources said the incident happened in the Koysanjaq district, east of Erbil. There was no immediate information on casualties or who was responsible for the attack.

Ghalibaf says inspections of Iran nuclear sites are ‘not allowed’

Iran's Parliament Speaker and negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, says the International Atomic Energy Agency will not be allowed to visit nuclear sites damaged in recent bombing.

Speaking to Iran’s ISNA news agency, Ghalibaf said the IAEA had only been granted access to two sites in Iran, including the Bushehr power plant.

Qatar hails positive progress during talks in Doha 

Positive progress was made on issues related to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran in Doha on Wednesday, Qatar's Foreign Ministry has said.

The MOU signed in June brought an end to months of conflict between Tehran and Washington.

Mediators from Qatar and Pakistan held seperate meetings with officials from the U.S. and Iran during the talks on Wednesday. 

A Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the next indirect meeting would be "scheduled at the earliest possible time," following the conclusion of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's funeral ceremonies. 

Khamenei was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes at the end of February, which triggered the conflict. 

U.S. service member missing after helicopter goes down in Arabian Sea

A U.S. service member is missing and three others have been injured, after their MH-60S Seahawk helicopter made an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea, the U.S., military has said.

It added that there was no indication the crash was caused by hostile action and that the injured service members are in a stable condition. 

"U.S. Navy assets in the region are currently searching for other aircrewman still missing. The cause of incident is under investigation," the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet said in a statement, adding that the helicopter was deployed to the region on the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier.

Frozen funds to purchase goods based on Tehran's 'needs', Iranian official says 

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has said that it was decided during discussions in the Qatari capital Doha today that part of the $6 billion in frozen funds would be used to purchase goods based on Iran's needs. 

Gharibabadi added that the Iranian delegation's talks were now concluded.

Official channel to be opened to report MOU breaches, Iran says

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister has said a communication channel will be established to report and discuss breaches of the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed in June, which ended conflict between the two countries. 

Cargo shipping between Iran and UAE resumes, Iranian media reports 

An Iranian official has said that direct cargo shipping routes from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Iran have resumed. 

“Cargo shipping routes from the UAE to Iran have resumed directly, and goods transport operations are now being carried out directly,” Ali Emami, Director-General of Logistics and Support at Iran's Trade Development Organisation, said in remarks carried by the government sponsored Mehr News Agency.

U.S. Military won't go back to Iran without 'purpose', Vance says 

Donald Trump won't send America's military back to Iran without a "clearly defined purpose," U.S. Vice-President JD Vance has said. 

Iran might buy more essential goods from U.S., Minister says 

Iran may increase purchases of essential goods from the U.S. if American companies offer suitable proposals, the country’s Agriculture Minister has said.

“The purchase of essential goods from American companies will only take place if Iran’s conditions are met,” Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh said in statements carried by the government backed ISNA News Agency.

“If companies offer suitable proposals and favorable terms for us and Iranian traders, naturally, the volume of transactions could increase,” he said.

Trump says U.S. ‘getting along very well’ with Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump said talks with Iran in Qatar had gone well and described progress on the country's denuclearisation as positive.

“The denuclearisation of Iran is moving along well,” Trump told reporters, adding that the two sides had held “very good meetings”.

He also said the United States was “getting along very well” with Iran and that Tehran had “come a long way.”

Two incidents reported near Yemen coast, crews safe - UKMTO

A vessel reported being approached by several small craft carrying armed individuals about 76 nautical miles south of Yemen’s Balhaf port, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

In a separate incident, a small craft approached a tanker operating 85 nautical miles off Balhaf. UKMTO said the crews in both cases were safe, and the tanker continued its voyage.

Iran says Doha talks focused on implementing interim U.S. deal

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said talks in Doha have focused on implementing the interim agreement between Tehran and Washington.

According to state media, he also met Qatar's prime minister and joined trilateral talks with officials from Qatar and Pakistan to review progress on the deal.

Iran warns of 'powerful' response after Israeli threat to supreme leader

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would respond "immediately and powerfully" to any threat against its people or leadership, after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was "marked for death".

The comments came as U.S. and Iranian officials held technical talks in Doha on the Strait of Hormuz and efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire.

Merz says Middle East ceasefire must come before reconstruction talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a ceasefire in the Middle East must be secured before any discussions on rebuilding the region can begin, stressing that "first of all the fighting must stop".

Vessel approached by armed boats off Yemen, crew safe, UKMTO says

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says it has received a report of an incident 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen, where a vessel was approached by several small craft carrying armed individuals.

The crew has been reported safe.

Foreign container ship runs aground in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian state media says a foreign container ship has run aground in the Strait of Hormuz after entering shallow waters outside the designated shipping channel.

The Revolutionary Guards reiterated that vessels should use only the approved route south of Larak Island when transiting the strategically important waterway.

Malaysia fuel subsidies could hit $9.77 billion, PM warns

Malaysia could spend as much as 40 billion ringgit ($9.77 billion) on fuel subsidies this year if global energy prices remain high, more than double its original budget.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said subsidy costs surged after the outbreak of the Iran war, but pledged continued support to help shield households from rising living costs.

Asian airlines' Europe boost fades as Gulf carriers return

The advantage Asian airlines gained on Europe routes during the Iran conflict is beginning to fade as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad restore flights and lower fares.

While carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air and ANA continue to benefit from strong long-haul bookings, industry data shows passenger load factors are gradually returning to normal as travellers regain confidence in flying via Gulf hubs.

South Korean vessel to leave Hormuz in mid-July after repairs

South Korea says the HMM-operated cargo vessel Namu is expected to leave the Strait of Hormuz in mid-July after repairs to damage sustained in a May attack.

Two vessels, including Namu, remain stranded in the waterway, while 21 South Korean-operated ships have transited safely since the U.S.-Iran ceasefire two weeks ago.

Iran rules out direct talks as U.S. envoys arrive in Doha

Iran has said it will not hold direct talks with U.S. as Tehran insists both sides must first finalise the terms of the deal before moving on to more contentious issues, including its nuclear programme.

While U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in Doha for high-level discussions and have met with Qatar's prime minister.