TEHRAN/ISLAMABAD – Middle East edged closer to wider regional conflict after Iran declared it is fully prepared to defend its sovereignty, while launching what it described as a new wave of retaliatory strikes against US military interests across Gulf.
Amid fresh tensions, a high-level telephone conversation reported between Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iranian top diplomat condemned latest US military strikes, calling them a blatant violation of the 14-point understanding between Tehran and Islamabad.
Araghchi warned that any further American “adventurism” would be met with a determined response, reaffirming Iran’s commitment to defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security.
As military tensions escalated, Araghchi also held urgent consultations with the foreign ministers of Turkey and Oman, with all sides emphasizing diplomacy as the only viable path to prevent the conflict from spiraling into a full-scale regional war.
Iranian state-affiliated media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missile attacks targeting US-linked military positions in Kuwait and Jordan, while explosions were also reported near the US Victory Base in Baghdad, Iraq. Jordanian authorities stated that several incoming missiles were intercepted over its airspace, highlighting the rapidly expanding security crisis across the region. Some battlefield claims remain independently unverified.
Tehran announced that it re-established operational control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. According to IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, maritime traffic through the strait has gradually resumed, reaching roughly half of its pre-conflict volume. Iranian authorities said vessels would only be permitted to transit through designated northern shipping lanes under Tehran’s supervision, warning that any foreign interference would receive a “strong and decisive response.”
Shipping companies now face growing confusion as competing navigation instructions emerge from both Tehran and Western-led maritime authorities. The U.S.-backed Joint Maritime Information Center has advised commercial vessels to use southern routes near Oman’s coastline to reduce security risks, while Iran insists ships must use its designated northern corridor. The conflicting directives have intensified uncertainty for global shipping operators navigating one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.
Commercial traffic through Hormuz remains lower than normal levels. On July 8, only 23 commercial cargo ships and oil tankers reportedly crossed the waterway, compared with an average of approximately 138 vessels per day before the latest escalation, underscoring the conflict’s growing impact on global trade and energy security.
Field Marshal Asim Munir meets Iranian FM Araghchi to convey Pakistan’s Condolences
