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Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran will block regional oil sales if it cannot sell its own, and that the Strait of Hormuz will only open under Iranian arrangements. The threat follows renewed US and Iranian strikes, with Ghalibaf warning that strikes will be met with counterstrikes.
Iranian officials and the IRGC have warned that any US attack on Iranian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, will be met with reciprocal strikes on US and allied infrastructure across the Middle East. The warnings follow US President Donald Trump's threats to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants in response to attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant each time Tehran attacks a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has warned of retaliation against US interests and oil exports. The conflict has escalated with US strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
Two Saudi crude tankers have reversed course in the Red Sea after Houthi threats, raising fears of a second maritime chokepoint disruption for Asian buyers already affected by Strait of Hormuz tensions. Analysts warn a full closure could disrupt 7.4 million barrels per day, leaving the Suez Canal as a longer, costlier alternative.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requested an additional $67bn for the war with Iran, citing $37.5bn already spent. The request faced bipartisan scrutiny in a Senate hearing, with critics questioning the cost and strategy.
Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has formally requested a $10 billion Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility from the US Treasury to strengthen the national economy. The facility, which would rely on the Treasury's Exchange Stabilisation Fund, aims to bolster foreign exchange reserves and ease debt pressures. Diplomatic sources indicate strong chances of approval, though the US Treasury has not commented officially.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko held separate meetings with Chinese and Bahraini diplomats, urging an immediate end to US-Iran hostilities and a return to negotiations based on the Islamabad memorandum. Both sides condemned attacks on civilian facilities as inadmissible, while Russia presented its proposals for collective security in the Persian Gulf.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Manila on the sidelines of Asean meetings, discussing Xi Jinping's planned US visit and the South China Sea dispute. Rubio also warned about Iran's threat to freedom of navigation and met with Quad partners.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site, a deeply buried facility near Natanz. The site, suspected of hosting an undeclared enrichment facility, remains untouched due to its depth and perceived lack of immediate threat, according to multiple reports.
Top diplomats from South Korea, the U.S., and Japan met in Manila on Wednesday, reaffirming close coordination on North Korea policy and committing to a robust deterrence posture. The three ministers also discussed economic security cooperation and agreed to deepen practical collaboration on nuclear energy, critical minerals, and emerging technologies.
The US military has completed its 11th night of strikes on Iran, targeting aircraft hangars and drone storage sites, while Iran continues attacks on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and other regional targets. Diplomatic efforts in Pakistan, led by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, have yet to yield a new arrangement, and the conflict has pushed oil prices higher.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington is open to a diplomatic solution but accuses Iran of not being serious about talks, as US strikes continue for consecutive nights. Rubio warns Iran will 'pay a price' and reiterated the US goal of denuclearization.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed the Iran war has cost $37.5 billion so far, as he seeks additional funding for the conflict. The figure marks a significant increase from previous estimates, with lawmakers questioning the cost and strategy.
Seoul stocks ended higher for a second straight session on July 22, with the KOSPI gaining 0.74 percent on an extended chip rally ahead of U.S. big tech earnings. The index then surged 4.4 percent to 7,096.89 on July 23 after Alphabet's results, powered by foreign buying of semiconductor shares and expectations of sustained memory chip demand.
Foreign ministers of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan met in Manila on Wednesday to discuss trilateral security and economic cooperation and coordinate on North Korea amid its deepening ties with Russia and China. The meeting took place on the sidelines of ASEAN-related gatherings, with separate bilateral talks between Seoul and Washington covering pending alliance issues, including Coupang and nuclear energy cooperation.
Japan imported about 1.53 million barrels of Russian oil in May and June at an average price of $103 per barrel, according to data from Japan's Ministry of Finance reported by TASS. Overall trade between the two countries increased by 15% in the first half of 2026, with notable growth in coal, iron, steel, and medical product imports from Russia.
US forces carried out an eleventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran, with air defence activity reported across Tehran. President Trump warned the campaign is "not finished," while Iran and its allies threaten further escalation across the region.
The Trump administration has signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, allowing US companies to help build a civilian nuclear program in the kingdom. The pact omits certain nonproliferation safeguards, drawing concerns about regional arms race risks.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran's fortified nuclear site known as 'Pickaxe Mountain,' escalating tensions as the US-Iran conflict enters its fifth month. The facility, south of Tehran, is described as deeply buried and heavily fortified, while Tehran maintains it is for centrifuge assembly only.
A UN report shows global hunger fell for a third consecutive year in 2025, yet progress remains uneven. For the first time, Africa hosts the most hungry people, with 309 million affected, surpassing Asia's 292 million. Affordability of healthy diets remains a major global challenge.