Senate Democrats block defence bill over Iran war, Israel military integration Senate Democrats have voted to block the debate on annual defence policy, objecting to Trump’s war on Iran as well as provisions that would more closely integrate the US and Israeli militaries. The Senate voted 50-46 against the opening debate on the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), with lawmakers almost entirely divided along party lines.
Air defences activated around Bushehr nuclear power plant, clashes heard in Gulf waters Iran’s Mehr news agency said that its air defences around the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran have been activated. The agency also reported that explosions sounded in the maritime area of eastern Hormozgan and Sirik, which it says appear linked to an exchange of fire and clashes in the waters of the Gulf between the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Another explosion has been also been heard in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Mahmoud Khalil sues Trump administration officials and pro-Israel groups for 'conspiracy' Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 07/14/2026 - 22:20 The suit also targets Canary Mission, Betar US and the Heritage Foundation think tank Mahmoud Khalil, accompanied by his wife Noor Abdalla, raises his hands as he arrives for a press conference outside the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York City, on 22 June (Kena Betancur/AFP) Off Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil has filed a lawsuit against senior Trump administration officials, the Heritage Foundation, Betar, and Canary Mission, seeking damages for unlawful conspiracy, he said in a press conference on Tuesday. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and Khalil's lawyers from Beldock Levine & Hoffman announced the lawsuit, alleging that these groups “sought to terrorize and make an example of” him and other non-citizen Palestinian rights activists "in an effort to intimidate and weaken the growing movement for Palestinian solidarity”. The lawsuit was brought under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, according to CCR.
'The Middle East is coming together': Trump hosts handpicked Iraqi leader in Washington Two months to the day since he was appointed prime minister of Iraq, Ali al-Zaidi, a political novice, found himself in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday, basking in the praise of the US president who put him there. "I've watched what was happening in Iraq with the elections, and I put a very strong endorsement out because I was very unhappy with the man that was supposed to win the election. And this great gentleman, I think he's going to end up being a great leader," Trump told reporters gathered in the room.
New explosions sound in Iran’s Chabahar, Bampur Several more explosions have been heard in Bampur and Chabahar in southern Iran, Fars news agency is reporting, without giving an exact location. No casualties or damage have been reported.
'The Middle East is coming together': Trump hosts handpicked Iraqi leader in Washington Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Tue, 07/14/2026 - 16:41 The meeting is largely an opportunity for the US president to lay out his agenda for Baghdad US President Donald Trump shouts to reporters as he greets Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on 14 July 2026 (Evan Vucci/Reuters) Off Two months to the day since he was appointed prime minister of Iraq, Ali al-Zaidi, a political novice, found himself in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday, basking in the praise of the US president who put him there. "I've watched what was happening in Iraq with the elections, and I put a very strong endorsement out because I was very unhappy with the man that was supposed to win the election. And this great gentleman, I think he's going to end up being a great leader," Trump told reporters gathered in the room.
No casualties reported in Bandar Abbas, says governorate Hormozgan Governorate officials have reported that there were no civilian casualties or damage to residential and commercial properties following the recent US attacks in the region on Tuesday, according to comments carried by Mehr news agency. The Hormozgan province’s capital of Bandar Abbas was targeted by US military forces alongside the cities of Sirik, the Ahvaz region and Qeshm and Kish Islands, according to Iranian media reports.
Some Gulf states signal they aren't opposed to paying fees in Hormuz, sources say Some Arab Gulf States have suggested to the US and European countries that they are not opposed to paying a fee in the Strait of Hormuz, but reject Iranian control of the waterway, multiple US and regional officials have told Middle East Eye. The difference between the two positions is a nuanced one, officials briefed on the matter told MEE, but it is important as fighting flares between the US and Iran again. US President Donald Trump is also signalling he expects economic compensation for the US providing security in the waterway.
Some Gulf states signal they aren't opposed to paying fees in Hormuz, sources say Submitted by Sean Mathews on Tue, 07/14/2026 - 21:07 Gulf states are more wary of Iranian control in Hormuz than financial payments, as Trump ups his demand for investments Ships are docked along a pier at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in the Sharjah emirate, along the Gulf of Oman, on 14 July 2026 (AFP) Off Some Arab Gulf States have suggested to the US and European countries that they are not opposed to paying a fee in the Strait of Hormuz, but reject Iranian control of the waterway, multiple US and regional officials have told Middle East Eye. The difference between the two positions is a nuanced one, officials briefed on the matter told MEE, but it is important as fighting flares between the US and Iran again. US President Donald Trump is also signalling he expects economic compensation for the US providing security in the waterway.
US supports efforts by Iraq and Syria to reconstruct oil pipeline The US is supporting efforts by Iraq and Syria to reconstruct a crude oil pipeline running between the two countries, which could bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a State Department official told Reuters on Tuesday. The US expects American companies to play a role in advancing the pipeline's rehabilitation, the official added.
More explosions reported in Ahvaz, Qeshm Island Another explosion has been reported in the city of Ahvaz in southern Iran, and several more in Qeshm Island, according to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.
Two Palestinian youths injured in settler attack south of Nablus Two young Palestinian men sustained injuries on Tuesday following an Israeli settler attack on the town of Beita, south of Nahlus in the occupied West Bank, according to Wafa news, citing local sources. Sources said that the settlers attacked an area on the outskirts of the town, cutting down electricity poles and causing power outages in several homes before local residents confronted the attack, during which they were wounded. The settlers then reportedly obstructed the passage of an ambulance and assaulted its crew when it came to provide assistance to the injured young men.
Iranian media: US strikes hit near Iran’s Sirik Iran’s Mehr news agency has reported that US projectiles have struck an area near the city of Sirik in southern Iran on Tuesday. This comes after reports from IRNA news agency that a US attack hit Bandar Abbas, without elaborating on the target or extent of the damage.
US military confirms strikes launched against Iran US Central Command (Centcom) announced on Tuesday that the military is launching more strikes on Iran to “continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz”, according to a post to X. “The strikes are taking place as American forces prepare to resume the naval blockade against Iranian ports and coastal areas,” the statement added. In a separate post on X, Centcom stated that "there are currently more than 20 US Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft operating across the Middle East," adding that "American forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready".
Explosions heard in Iran’s Bandar Abbas Iranian's IRNA news agency has reported that three consecutive explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, a coastal city along the Strait of Hormuz. This follows reports of explosions in Iran's southern city of Ahvaz and its Qeshm and Kish Islands on Tuesday.
Kuwait army says vessel targeted, four personnel injured Kuwait's military said in a statement on Tuesday that one of its navy vessels was targeted in Iranian attacks, injuring four armed forces personnel. The injured personnel received medical treatment and were in stable condition, the statement added. Kuwait's armed forces added that they had detected and intercepted one ballistic missile, five cruise missiles and 33 drones on Tuesday's attacks, which targeted several civilian facilities, with debris falling and causing material damage.
Explosions reported in southern Iran’s Ahvaz Iran's Fars news agency reported on Tuesday that explosions were heard in the southern city of Ahvaz, the capital of Iran's Khuzestan province. This comes amid a wave of US attacks on Iran and Iranian retaliation on Gulf states, which have seemingly ended the memorandum of understanding between the nations.
IRGC says no oil will be exported as long as US stays in the region Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Tuesday that as long as US “evil actions” continue in the region, “not a single drop of oil and gas” will be exported from the region, Iranian state media reported. The IRGC also added that US “aggressions” against it will have no result other than delaying the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and stated that their latest attacks on US facilities destroyed or damaged several drones in Kuwait and Bahrain, in retaliation against US attacks on Iran.
Trump's former campaign manager running multimillion dollar pro-Israel influencer campaign: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 07/14/2026 - 19:03 Brad Parscale's pro-Israel campaign instructed young conservative influencers to criticise Trump's ceasefire with Iran Brad Parscale, campaign manager for Trump's 2020 reelection campaign, walks on stage during the Conservative Political Action Conference, hosted by the American Conservative Union on 28 February 28, 2020, in National Harbor, Maryland (Samuel Corum/Getty Images/AFP) Off A social media campaign attacking US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire deal with Iran was run by the president’s former campaign manager, Brad Parscale, according to a report published on Tuesday by Time Magazine. The campaign was conducted as part of a broader contract for Parscale’s firm, Clock Tower X, signed with global ad agency Havas on behalf of Israel . Officially, the deal was to combat antisemitism, but Time reported the real motivation was to prevent young conservatives from becoming critical of Israel.
Iran has no commitments when it comes to MoU with US, says deputy foreign minister Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazeem Gharibabadi said on Tuesday that the country currently considers itself to have no commitments regarding the Islamabad memorandum of understanding with the United States. “America not only violated the memorandum of understanding, but also dismantled it,” Gharibabadi said in remarks delivered to Iran's IRIB news channel. “The failure to implement one of the clauses was enough to collapse the entire memorandum of understanding, and now America has violated all of its obligations.
