This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.
Catch up on Thursday's top developments here:
- US military launches 13th night of strikes on Iran
- Trump says frozen Iranian assets will pay for damage to shipping
- Kuwait says under attack from Iranian missiles and drones
- Israeli far-right minister leads hundreds to Al-Aqsa on Jewish mourning day
- Pakistan PM condemns Houthi attacks in call with Saudi crown prince
Senior Iranian official threatens escalation after Rubio remarks
Published: July 24, 2026 | 00:01 GMT | by Web Desk
A senior Iranian official has threatened to escalate the conflict with the United States, responding to remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Al Jazeera reported.
Abbas Mousavi, chief of protocol in the Iranian president's office, mocked Rubio's comments in a post on X, writing: “Soon, it won't be 'an eye for an eye' or 'a head for an eye', but 'your whole damn body for an eye!' This isn't just bluster.”
Earlier on Thursday, Rubio said the US military approach would be “a head for an eye,” suggesting Washington would respond to any Iranian attack with a stronger military response.
Rubio made the remarks after being asked about Tehran's stated policy of “an eye for an eye,” which Iranian officials have used to signal that Iran would respond proportionately to any US military action.
US military launches 13th night of strikes on Iran
Published: July 23, 2026 | 23:42 GMT | by AFP
The United States military said Thursday it was attacking Iran for the 13th night in a row.
"U.S. forces started another night of strikes against Iranian military targets at 6:45 p.m. ET (2245 GMT) today," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, adding that the "strikes aimed to hold Iran accountable and diminish threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to commercial shipping."
Trump says frozen Iranian assets will pay for damage to shipping
Published: July 23, 2026 | 23:22 GMT | by AFP
President Donald Trump said Thursday that the US would begin using frozen Iranian assets to pay for ships and cargo damaged by strikes in and around the Gulf.
"Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls," Trump said on Truth Social.
For earlier developments, read our July 23 live blog here.
