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Thursday, July 23, 2026

Saudi Oil Tanker Hit By Houthi Missile As US Pounds Iran For 12th Straight Night

A Saudi oil tanker was reportedly struck by a Houthi missile near Yemen on Wednesday, triggering a fire aboard the vessel in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed Yemeni group is reported to have carried out the attack as tensions across the region continued to escalate. The incident came as the United States launched its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets, with President Donald Trump issuing another warning to Tehran over attacks on commercial shipping. The conflict has also continued to roil global energy markets, with Brent crude rising above $93 a barrel and briefly crossing the $95 mark in after-hours trading. <h2>US Continues Military Campaign Against Iran</h2> The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces targeted a range of Iranian military assets during the latest operation. According to CENTCOM, the strikes hit maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and air defence systems. "The mission will continue to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters," CENTCOM said. The US military said the operation lasted around five hours and added that American forces have struck dozens of Iranian military sites throughout July while maintaining a naval blockade against Iran. ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/5DpumgR" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'Attack Ships In Hormuz And We'll Blow Up Bridges, Power Plants': Trump's Open Threat To Iran</a> <h2>Trump Issues Fresh Warning to Tehran</h2> As military operations continued, President Donald Trump warned Iran that attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz would invite direct retaliation against the country's infrastructure. "From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT," Trump wrote on social media. The latest warning comes amid continuing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime trade routes. ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/8T4x12B" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran Draws Red Line On Oil Exports, Warns US Of Regional Fallout: 'If We Don't Sell Oil, No One Will'</a> <h2>'They'll Be Ready Very Soon': Trump</h2> Speaking later at a rally in Georgia, Trump said Iran was continuing to resist a deal despite facing sustained military pressure. "They're not ready to make a deal because every time they make a deal, they want to change it and everything. They're not ready. They'll be ready very soon," Trump said, according to the Associated Press. He also expressed confidence that oil prices would eventually decline despite the recent surge linked to the escalating conflict in the region.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-saudi-oil-tanker-hit-by-houthi-missile-us-pounds-iran-for-12th-straight-night-1858141

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Iran Draws Red Line On Oil Exports, Warns US Of Regional Fallout: 'If We Don't Sell Oil, No One Will'

Iran's Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has declared that Tehran will not allow the Strait of Hormuz to return to its pre-war status, signalling that the strategically vital waterway will remain a key point of contention with the United States. His remarks came as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated further, with US President Donald Trump warning of military retaliation against Iranian infrastructure if ships transiting the strait come under attack. <h3>Ghalibaf Says Strait's Security Hinges On US Withdrawal</h3> In a post on X, Ghalibaf said the regional confrontation had reached what he described as an "all or none equation," arguing that the future security of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the departure of American forces from the region. "In a region where we do not sell oil, no one will sell oil. If our security is not ensured, no infrastructure will be safe, and the security of the strait is in the absence of American forces. We have repeatedly said that the situation of the strait will not return to pre-war conditions," he wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> معادلهٔ این جنگ مشخص است: یا همه یا هیچکس! در منطقه&zwnj;ای که ما نفت نفروشیم، کسی نفت نخواهد فروخت. اگر امنیت ما تأمین نشود، هیچ زیرساختی ایمن نخواهد بود و امنیت تنگه در نبود نیروهای آمریکایی است. بارها گفته&zwnj;ایم که وضعیت تنگه به قبل از جنگ باز نمی&zwnj;گردد. — محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) <a href="https://ift.tt/vkhzjGb 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://ift.tt/vBATRLr" async="" charset="utf-8"></script>   ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/ukraine-kerala-sailor-family-awaits-information-on-return-of-his-mortal-remains-russia-1857739">Kerala Sailor's Family Awaits Information On Return Of His Mortal Remains From Ukraine</a> The statement also underscored Iran's position that if its crude oil exports are prevented, it would not permit other Gulf nations to continue exporting oil through the strategic waterway. <h3>Trump Threatens Strikes On Iranian Infrastructure</h3> Ghalibaf's comments followed a fresh warning from Trump, who said the United States would target Iranian infrastructure if Tehran attacked commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. "From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tfx69oYogP0?si=DyC6f1Bib8SY3Y5s" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Trump repeated the warning on Wednesday, saying that any Iranian attack on vessels using missiles, rockets, drones or other weapons would prompt US strikes on bridges, power plants and other infrastructure. He added that potential targets could include facilities "next to, or in, the capital city of Tehran." <h3>Strait oOf Hormuz Remains Centre Of Escalating Conflict</h3> The latest exchange comes after nearly two weeks of escalating military action between the United States and Iran following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire linked to disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz. Since then, US forces have carried out multiple strikes inside Iranian territory, while Iran has responded by targeting American military installations across the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world's oil supply passes, remains at the heart of the dispute. Iran maintains that recent understandings give it a greater role in determining how the waterway is managed. Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported that American missile strikes hit locations near the western cities of Ahvaz, Ramshir and Andimeshk. State media also said two people were killed in a US missile strike on the border town of Shalamcheh early on Thursday.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-tehran-draws-red-line-on-oil-exports-warns-us-of-regional-fallout-trump-1858098

France's Environment Minister Resigns In Protest Over Harmful Pesticides

Edited by: Rob Turner French Minister of Ecological Transition Monique Barbut announced Wednesday that she would "submit her resignation today" to President Emmanuel Macron in protest to the reintroduction of harmful pesticides. However, Macron did not accept her resignation, and Barbut will stay in her post due to the "urgency to address the consequences of climate change," her team said in comments carried by the AFP news agency. <h2>What Barbut Said About Her Resignation</h2> In a post on LinkedIn, Barbut wrote that "contrary to the commitments that had been made to me, the government prevented any debate on the removal of this measure," adding that there had been "one environmental setback too many," since was appointed last October. ALSO READ | <a href="'Iran%20Not%20Serious%20About%20Talks':%20Marco%20Rubio%20Warns%20Tehran%20Of%20Consequences%20https://news.abplive.com/news/world/marco-rubio-iran-not-serious-talks-strait-hormuz-international-waterway-1857994">'Iran Not Serious About Talks': Marco Rubio Warns Tehran Of Consequences</a> "Politics is not my world, and if this is what politics is about, it definitely never will be," said the former head of WWF France and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). <h2>What Is In France's Pesticide Bill?</h2> Barbut's statement comes just after lawmakers appoved a bill that will allow the pesticides acetamiprid and flupyradifurone to come back into use. They have been banned in France since 2018 and 2019, respectively. Scientists say that the chemicals are dangerous to human health and are harmful to the bee populations that make agriculture possible in the first place. ALSO READ | <a href="'Iran%20Not%20Serious%20About%20Talks':%20Marco%20Rubio%20Warns%20Tehran%20Of%20Consequences%20https://news.abplive.com/news/world/marco-rubio-iran-not-serious-talks-strait-hormuz-international-waterway-1857994">Pakistan: 6 Children Dead, 94 Infected In HIV Outbreak At Karachi Hospital</a> Proponents of the bill argued that France's beet, apple, and hazlenut farmers need the pesticides to compete against their EU counterparts. The substances are not banned in the EU but some member states limit their use. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live. for DW

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/monique-barbut-protest-harmful-pesticides-acetamiprid-flupyradifurone-france-1858019

China Steps Up Coast Guard Around Taiwan, New Tensions Raise Blockade Fears

Taipei: Taiwan has reported a sharp increase in the presence of Chinese coast guard and research vessels around the island, prompting authorities to prepare drills simulating possible Chinese escalations off Taiwan's Pacific coast, Taipei Times reported. According to Taipei Times, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) recorded 55 Chinese government vessel sightings in June, including coast guard and research ships, compared with 30 sightings in May and 25 during the same period last year. The figures exclude vessels operating near Taiwan-controlled islands close to the Chinese mainland. The increase, reported by Taipei Times, highlights Beijing's growing use of its coast guard to reinforce its territorial claims over Taiwan. While the Chinese military maintains an almost daily presence around the island, Taiwanese officials say China is increasingly relying on coast guard operations as part of what Taipei describes as "lawfare" -- using legal and administrative measures to strengthen its claims. Speaking to Taipei Times on condition of anonymity, a senior CGA official said Taiwan is preparing for the possibility that China could attempt to disrupt or blockade the island's Pacific supply routes in the event of a future conflict. The official said Taiwan has conducted both tabletop exercises and live drills with its navy to safeguard critical maritime lifelines. The report also said that Taiwanese officials believe several Chinese coast guard vessels have been converted from former naval destroyers and repainted for coast guard operations, giving them greater endurance and military capability than conventional law enforcement ships. Officials added that Chinese vessels frequently operate in pairs just outside Taiwan's economic waters in the Pacific, stretching the capacity of Taiwan's coast guard. According to Taipei Times, Taiwanese authorities also accused Chinese coast guard vessels of broadcasting radio messages to commercial ships requesting port entry and exit information in an apparent attempt to pressure merchant traffic. Taiwan has instructed vessels to ignore such communications and continue normal navigation. A senior Taiwanese official told Taipei Times that Beijing's actions are aimed at altering the regional status quo despite having no legal jurisdiction in the area, describing the campaign as an effort to create new facts on the ground through sustained maritime pressure.  (Disclaimer: This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/taiwan-china-coast-guard-vessels-maritime-pressure-territorial-claims-1858013

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Trump Approves Landmark US-Saudi Nuclear Deal, Opening Door To Uranium Enrichment In Kingdom

US President Donald Trump has approved a wide-ranging nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could eventually allow the Gulf nation to enrich uranium for civilian nuclear energy, according to two people familiar with the matter. The individuals, who requested anonymity as the agreement has not yet been formally announced, said an official declaration could be made as early as Wednesday. While the final details are still being worked out, the proposed arrangement would mark one of the most significant steps in nuclear cooperation between Washington and Riyadh in decades. <h3>US-Saudi Nuclear Cooperation Enters New Phase</h3> The proposed agreement would remain in force for 30 years and is expected to create major opportunities for American companies in Saudi Arabia's emerging nuclear energy sector. As part of the arrangement under discussion, the United States and Saudi Arabia would jointly conduct a feasibility study to assess the construction of a uranium enrichment facility within the kingdom, as per reports on AP. Riyadh has long sought the ability to enrich uranium domestically as it expands its civilian nuclear programme. Before the agreement can be implemented, it must undergo review by the US Congress, where lawmakers are expected to closely examine its security implications. Critics are likely to argue that permitting uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia could encourage a regional nuclear race and increase proliferation risks in the Middle East. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vG6F1Sed70U?si=S0tgHhr9JktFEnXN" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> ALSO READ: <a title="Trump Promises Lebanon 'Respect' As President Joseph Aoun Visits White House" href="https://ift.tt/hApJVRG" target="_self">Trump Promises Lebanon 'Respect' As President Joseph Aoun Visits White House</a> <h3>Inspection Questions May Draw International Scrutiny</h3> Saudi Arabia is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which oversees the peaceful use of nuclear technology while ensuring that civilian programmes are not diverted for military purposes. However, according to one of the sources, the proposed agreement would not include the IAEA's Additional Protocol, an enhanced safeguards measure that allows inspectors broader access to verify nuclear activities. The absence of this provision could become a key point of concern for non-proliferation experts. The expected announcement also comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the United States and Israel continuing military operations against Iran, citing concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran, for its part, has consistently maintained that its uranium enrichment activities are intended solely for peaceful purposes. Neither the White House nor Saudi authorities had responded to requests for comment at the time of publication. The Wall Street Journal first reported the development. ALSO READ: <a title="Pakistan Under Attack Again? Militants Blow Up Government School In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa" href="https://ift.tt/yDTHd9A" target="_self">Pakistan Under Attack Again? Militants Blow Up Government School In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa</a> <h3>Long-Running Talks Revived Amid Regional Tensions</h3> Negotiations on nuclear cooperation between Washington and Riyadh have continued across multiple US administrations. Both Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden explored similar agreements aimed at expanding Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear capabilities. Even so, experts have repeatedly warned that domestic uranium enrichment, while not equivalent to building a nuclear weapon, represents an important technological milestone that could eventually support a weapons programme if political circumstances change. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that the kingdom would consider pursuing a nuclear weapon if Iran were to acquire one. The issue has gained additional attention following recent geopolitical developments. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a mutual defence agreement after an Israeli strike targeting Hamas officials in Qatar. Following that agreement, Pakistan's defence minister said his country's nuclear arsenal "will be made available" to Saudi Arabia if necessary, remarks widely viewed as directed towards Israel, which is widely believed to possess the Middle East's only nuclear weapons. Energy Secretary Chris Wright also visited Saudi Arabia last year before Trump's own trip to the kingdom, holding discussions with Saudi officials on expanding the country's commercial nuclear energy ambitions.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-saudi-nuclear-deal-trump-approves-landmark-move-opening-door-to-uranium-enrichment-in-kingdom-1857867

India, North Macedonia discuss UN reforms, direct connectivity: official

Skopje (North Macedonia), Jul 21 (PTI): India and North Macedonia on Tuesday discussed reforms of the United Nations, direct connectivity, and ways to boost trade and tourism, among others, according to a top Indian diplomat. Briefing media persons on President Droupadi Murmu's ongoing visit here, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George said all aspects of bilateral relations were discussed, and the two sides underscored the need to identify new areas of cooperation to further strengthen ties. He said Murmu's visit marks a historic milestone in India-North Macedonia relations as it is the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian President to the landlocked southeast European nation. The visit reaffirms India's commitment to strengthening its partnership with North Macedonia and reflects its broader engagement with Europe, George said. Earlier in the day, Murmu held bilateral talks with her counterpart, President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, at the Presidential Palace (Villa Vodno). “They identified areas such as digital technology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, automotive, agriculture and agro-products, new technologies including AI as priority areas for cooperation,” George said. The two sides also discussed reforms of the United Nations, he said. “North Macedonia and India work together in the multilateral fora, cooperate with each other, and also it supports India's permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council,” George said. The diplomat said there was also a request for direct connectivity between India and North Macedonia. "It is on our wish list. We will see how we can take it forward," he said. The two countries renewed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the health sector for another five years to enhance collaboration through joint initiatives and technology development, including healthcare facilities, George said. North Macedonia has supported India in the fight against terrorism and strongly condemned the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, he said. Murmu also met Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, who hosted a working lunch in her honour. "The state visit of the President reaffirms our shared commitment to building a forward-looking and mutually beneficial partnership that contributes to the prosperity of our two countries," George said. Murmu is on a two-day visit to North Macedonia from Tuesday as part of the second leg of her three-nation tour of Europe. She concluded her visit to Moldova on Monday and will travel to Romania on Thursday in the last stretch of her tour. PTI AKV SCY SCY(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/india-north-macedonia-discuss-un-reforms-direct-connectivity-official-1857844

Trump Promises Lebanon 'Respect' As President Joseph Aoun Visits White House

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Lebanon had suffered for decades and pledged that the United States would support the country going forward during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House. During their Oval Office meeting, Trump said Lebanon would receive the respect it deserved. "It's been a very badly treated place and country, and we're going to have it properly treated, and treated with the respect that it deserves," Trump said. <h2>High-Stakes Meeting At The White House</h2> According to a Reuters report, Aoun's visit was aimed at presenting a plan to disarm the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and secure Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Aoun, who served as commander of Lebanon's US-backed army before being elected president last year, is the first Lebanese head of state to visit the White House in nearly 20 years. Tuesday's meeting marked his first face-to-face talks with Trump. The meeting comes as Israeli troops continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese remain displaced following Israeli strikes, and Hezbollah has rejected both direct talks between Lebanon and Israel and government efforts to disarm the group. <h2>Lebanon Pushes For Israeli Withdrawal</h2> Aoun arrived in Washington over the weekend and met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday. During the meeting, he said Israel should begin withdrawing from southern Lebanon in line with the US-brokered June 26 agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The agreement aims to disarm Hezbollah, facilitate a phased Israeli troop withdrawal and lay the groundwork for peaceful relations between the two countries. Hours before Aoun met Trump, Lebanese army troops began taking control of areas vacated by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, marking the first test of the agreement. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FZtcP8zrrg4?si=F52xJtOgOZlGWFJ2" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> A Lebanese official said Aoun believes only Trump has the leverage to persuade Israel to withdraw its troops and help Lebanon restore its sovereignty. The official also said Aoun planned to present Trump with a written proposal outlining how Hezbollah's weapons arsenal could be decommissioned. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/kremlin-responds-after-four-indians-killed-in-russian-strike-in-touch-with-india-1857811">Kremlin Responds After Four Indians Killed In Russian Strike; Says In Touch With India</a> <h2>A Presidency Shaped By Regional Conflict</h2> Joseph Aoun, 62, became Lebanon's president shortly before Trump began his second term in office. The United States welcomed his election. A Maronite Christian, Aoun was elected under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, which requires the president to be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister to be a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament to be a Shi'ite Muslim. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> WATCH: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urges <a href="https://ift.tt/tbhvBTX> to continue supporting the <a href="https://ift.tt/A89pI0Q>, warning that without US backing the country could face renewed instability similar to the chaos of the 1970s <a href="https://t.co/FqtTA2IXFY">https://t.co/FqtTA2IXFY</a> <a href="https://t.co/a5IubwQxnY">pic.twitter.com/a5IubwQxnY</a> — Arab News (@arabnews) <a href="https://ift.tt/dY293Ik 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://ift.tt/4yaMcVx" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> A career soldier, Aoun was wounded twice during his military service and still carries a shrapnel wound. His election followed a major shift in Lebanon's political landscape after Israel's 2024 offensive against Hezbollah and the fall of Hezbollah's Syrian ally, President Bashar al-Assad, developments that weakened the group's influence over the Lebanese state. At his swearing-in ceremony, Aoun pledged to uphold "the state's right to a monopoly on arms." <h2>Hezbollah Disarmament Remains Central Challenge</h2> The first year of Aoun's presidency focused on government efforts to secure Hezbollah's disarmament. The Iran-backed group, founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, has fought multiple wars with Israel. Lebanese troops were deployed in southern Lebanon to collect Hezbollah weapons caches under the ceasefire that followed the 2024 war, without opposition from the weakened group. However, early in Aoun's second year in office, fighting resumed after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on March 2 in support of Iran during the conflict involving the United States and Israel. According to Lebanon's health ministry, the conflict has killed more than 4,300 people, including nearly 800 children, women and medics. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, while Hezbollah has not released casualty figures for its fighters. <h2>Calls For Dialogue With Israel</h2> After the latest conflict began, Aoun called for direct talks with Israel, marking a significant shift for Lebanon, which has faced repeated Israeli invasions since 1978. The move resulted in the highest-level face-to-face contacts between the two countries in decades. His position drew strong criticism from Hezbollah and its supporters. Aoun has continued to criticise Hezbollah for initiating the war, saying Lebanon was being destroyed for the sake of Iran. However, he has not agreed to Trump's request that he hold a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/andrew-tate-tristan-tate-to-fight-extradition-to-uk-says-lawyer-1857762">Andrew, Tristan Tate To Fight UK Extradition As Lawyer Calls Case A 'Political Witch Hunt'</a>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-promises-lebanon-respect-as-president-joseph-aoun-visits-white-house-1857836