West Asia is witnessing another dangerous escalation despite reports that Iran and Oman are close to finalizing a framework for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Fresh Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have heightened tensions, even as diplomatic efforts continue between Israel and Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly warned Gulf nations that any fresh U.S. military action could trigger retaliation against critical infrastructure, including oil fields, refineries, electricity grids, water facilities, and transport networks. The developments come as Washington continues to pursue negotiations with Tehran while expressing concerns over divisions within Iran's leadership.

As uncertainty grows over the future of the Hormuz shipping route and the fragile Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, fears of a broader regional conflict continue to mount.

Iran Warns Gulf States of Retaliation | Israel Launches Fresh Strikes on Lebanon | GRAVITAS 

<p>On Sunday, negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 countries adjourned&nbsp;their talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal; Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and returned to their respective country capitals for consultations, as according to the Iran delegation chief, remaining differences cannot be overcome so easily. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking to Iranian state TV from Vienna, Abbas Araqchi said, "We are now closer than ever to an agreement but the distance that exists between us and an agreement remains and bridging it is not an easy job,"</p>

<p>"We will return to Tehran tonight." He added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-says-irans-raisi-extreme-committed-to-nuclear-programme-392707">Israel says Iran's Raisi extreme, committed to nuclear programme</a></strong></p>

<p>As of yet, it is still unclear when the formal negotiations will resume. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Parties to the pact wrapped up, after more than a week of negotiations in this&nbsp;latest round. According to the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;envoy though no date for a resumption in negotiations had been set, for now, but that they could return in about 10 days.</p>

<p>Enrique Mora, the European Union political director who has been&nbsp;coordinating the discussions told reporters in Vienna, that&nbsp;"We have made progress this week, in this sixth round. We are closer to a deal but we are not still there. We are closer than we were one week ago but we are not still there,".</p>

<p>Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner, ultraconservative cleric, on Friday secured victory in Iran’s presidential elections, replacing pragmatist Hassan Rouhani.</p>

<p>This is not expected to disrupt Iran’s efforts to rebuild the nuclear pact and escape tough US financial and oil sanctions, as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say on all the major policy decisions.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-says-irans-raisi-extreme-committed-to-nuclear-programme-392707">Israel says Iran's Raisi extreme, committed to nuclear programme</a></strong></p>

<p>Under the Donald Trump administration, Washington exited from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.</p>

<p>In an attempt to iron out steps both the United States and Iran must take on nuclear activities and sanctions, so as to return to full compliance with the pact, negotiations have been underway in Vienna since April.</p>

<p>"Bridging the gaps requires decisions that mainly the other party (Washington) has to take. I hope in the next round we will travel this short distance - albeit a difficult one," Araqchi said.</p>

<p>Condemning the recent presidential election, and calling the upcoming regime under Raisi "regime of brutal hangmen" Iran’s arch-enemy Israel said that world powers should not negotiate a new nuclear deal with them.</p>

<p>"(His) election is, I would say, the last chance for world powers to wake up before returning to the nuclear agreement, and understand who they are doing business with," Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ebrahim-raisi-hailed-as-irans-new-president-392723/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The new Iran president Raisi, has never publicly addressed allegations around his role in what the United States and human rights groups have called the extrajudicial executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988.</p>

<p>Bennett, has hewed to the opposition of his conservative predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu against the nuclear deal, whose curbs on projects with atomic bomb-making potential, Israel deems to be too lenient.</p>


On Sunday, negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 countries adjourned their talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal; Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and returned to their respective country capitals for consultations, as according to the Iran delegation chief, remaining differences cannot be overcome so easily.

On Sunday, negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 countries adjourned their talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal; Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and returned to their respective country capitals for consultations, as according to the Iran delegation chief, remaining differences cannot be overcome so easily. Talking to Iranian state TV from Vienna, Abbas Araqchi said, "We are now closer than ever to an agreement but the distance that exists between us and an agreement remains and bridging it is not an easy job," "We will return to Tehran tonight." He added. Also read | Israel says Iran's Raisi extreme, committed to nuclear programme As of yet, it is still unclear when the formal negotiations will resume. Parties to the pact wrapped up, after more than a week of negotiations in this latest round. According to the Russian envoy though no date for a resumption in negotiations had been set, for now, but that they could return in about 10 days. Enrique Mora, the European Union political director who has been coordinating the discussions told reporters in Vienna, that "We have made progress this week, in this sixth round. We are closer to a deal but we are not still there. We are closer than we were one week ago but we are not still there,". Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner, ultraconservative cleric, on Friday secured victory in Iran’s presidential elections, replacing pragmatist Hassan Rouhani. This is not expected to disrupt Iran’s efforts to rebuild the nuclear pact and escape tough US financial and oil sanctions, as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say on all the major policy decisions. Also read | Israel says Iran's Raisi extreme, committed to nuclear programme Under the Donald Trump administration, Washington exited from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. In an attempt to iron out steps both the United States and Iran must take on nuclear activities and sanctions, so as to return to full compliance with the pact, negotiations have been underway in Vienna since April. "Bridging the gaps requires decisions that mainly the other party (Washington) has to take. I hope in the next round we will travel this short distance - albeit a difficult one," Araqchi said. Condemning the recent presidential election, and calling the upcoming regime under Raisi "regime of brutal hangmen" Iran’s arch-enemy Israel said that world powers should not negotiate a new nuclear deal with them. "(His) election is, I would say, the last chance for world powers to wake up before returning to the nuclear agreement, and understand who they are doing business with," Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement. The new Iran president Raisi, has never publicly addressed allegations around his role in what the United States and human rights groups have called the extrajudicial executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Bennett, has hewed to the opposition of his conservative predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu against the nuclear deal, whose curbs on projects with atomic bomb-making potential, Israel deems to be too lenient.

Nuclear talks adjourned for consultations in respective capitals, resumption dates unclear

<p>Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied on Friday that Iran had lost a drone in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-navy-destroyed-iranian-drone-in-strait-of-hormuz-says-donald-trump-236999">Strait of Hormuz</a> after US President Donald Trump said that a US Navy ship had "destroyed" an Iranian drone, reported news agency Reuters.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We have not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz nor anywhere else. I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own UAS by mistake!</p>
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) <a href="https://twitter.com/araghchi/status/1152081448704196611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"We have not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz nor anywhere else. I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own UAS [Unmanned Aerial System] by mistake!," Araqchi said on Twitter, referring to a US warship in the strategic waterway.</p>

<p>Tensions in the Gulf region mounted Thursday after Trump announced that the USS Boxer, an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firing-one-bullet-towards-iran-will-set-fire-to-americas-interests-iran-229490">amphibious assault ship</a>, "took defensive action" against the Iranian drone as it was "threatening the safety of the ship and the ship's crew."</p>

<p>The drone was "immediately destroyed&nbsp;after it approached within 1,000 yards (914 meters) of the Boxer", Trump said.</p>

<p>"This is the latest of many provocative and hostile actions by Iran, against vessels operating in international waters," he said.</p>


Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied on Friday that Iran had lost a drone in the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump said that a US Navy ship had "destroyed" an Iranian drone, reported news agency Reuters.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied on Friday that Iran had lost a drone in the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump said that a US Navy ship had "destroyed" an Iranian drone, reported news agency Reuters. We have not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz nor anywhere else. I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own UAS by mistake! — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 19, 2019 × "We have not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz nor anywhere else. I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own UAS [Unmanned Aerial System] by mistake!," Araqchi said on Twitter, referring to a US warship in the strategic waterway. Tensions in the Gulf region mounted Thursday after Trump announced that the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, "took defensive action" against the Iranian drone as it was "threatening the safety of the ship and the ship's crew." The drone was "immediately destroyed after it approached within 1,000 yards (914 meters) of the Boxer", Trump said. "This is the latest of many provocative and hostile actions by Iran, against vessels operating in international waters," he said.

Iran's deputy foreign minister says Tehran has not lost any drone

Abbas Araqchi clarifies oil tanker wasn't Syria-Bound

Iran Denies Syria-Bound Tanker Charges

<p>An Iranian tanker captured by British Royal Marines in Gibraltar was not headed to Syria, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday, reported news agency AFP.</p>

<p>In a press conference broadcast live on state TV, the minister said the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-threatens-british-shipping-in-retaliation-for-tanker-seizure-233404">giant tanker</a> has a capacity of up to two million barrels of oil and that is why it was travelling through the Strait of Gibraltar rather than the Suez Canal.</p>

<p>He did not give information on the tanker's final destination.</p>

<p>Royal Marines seized the tanker on Thursday, alleging that it was headed to&nbsp;Syria in violation of EU sanctions, a dramatic intervention described as "maritime robbery" by Araqchi.</p>

<p>“Despite what the government of England is claiming, the target and destination of this tanker wasn’t Syria,” Araqchi said. “The port that they have named in Syria essentially does not have the capacity for such a supertanker. The target was somewhere else. It was passing through international waters through the Strait of Gibraltar and there is no law that allows England to stop this tanker. In our view the stopping of this ship was maritime robbery and we want this tanker to be freed.”</p>

<p>The government of Gibraltar said on Friday that they had received permission from their supreme court to hold the tanker for fourteen days.</p>

<p>An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander threatened on Friday to seize a British ship in retaliation.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Reuters)</em></p>


An Iranian tanker captured by British Royal Marines in Gibraltar was not headed to Syria, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday, reported news agency AFP.

An Iranian tanker captured by British Royal Marines in Gibraltar was not headed to Syria, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday, reported news agency AFP. In a press conference broadcast live on state TV, the minister said the giant tanker has a capacity of up to two million barrels of oil and that is why it was travelling through the Strait of Gibraltar rather than the Suez Canal. He did not give information on the tanker's final destination. Royal Marines seized the tanker on Thursday, alleging that it was headed to Syria in violation of EU sanctions, a dramatic intervention described as "maritime robbery" by Araqchi. “Despite what the government of England is claiming, the target and destination of this tanker wasn’t Syria,” Araqchi said. “The port that they have named in Syria essentially does not have the capacity for such a supertanker. The target was somewhere else. It was passing through international waters through the Strait of Gibraltar and there is no law that allows England to stop this tanker. In our view the stopping of this ship was maritime robbery and we want this tanker to be freed.” The government of Gibraltar said on Friday that they had received permission from their supreme court to hold the tanker for fourteen days. An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander threatened on Friday to seize a British ship in retaliation. (With inputs from Reuters)

Iran says captured tanker wasn't headed to Syria, calls the act 'maritime robbery'

<p>Iran's senior nuclear negotiator will announce more cuts in its commitments to a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-nuclear-watchdogs-board-to-meet-on-iran-at-request-of-us-233425">2015 nuclear deal</a> on Sunday, a semi-official news agency reported, amid Iranian accusations that Tehran's European partners have failed to shield it from US sanctions.</p>

<p>Other officials will join the top negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, in making the announcement at a news conference at 10:30 a.m. (0600 GMT), the Fars news agency reported.</p>

<p>Tension has spiked between Tehran and Washington since last year, when Trump quit a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six powers and reimposed sanctions that had been lifted under the pact in return for Tehran curbing its sensitive nuclear work.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: US&nbsp;calls for IAEA emergency meet</strong></p>

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<p>Under the deal, Iran can enrich uranium to 3.67 per cent fissile material, well below the 20 per cent it was reaching before the deal and the roughly 90 per cent suitable for a nuclear weapon.</p>

<p>In reaction to US&nbsp;sanctions, which have notably targeted its main foreign revenue stream in the shape of <a href="http://cms.wionews.com/world/iran-threatens-british-shipping-in-retaliation-for-tanker-seizure-233404">crude oil exports</a>, Iran said in May that it would scale back its commitments to the deal after a 60-day deadline.</p>

<p>Separately, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iranian officials were unanimous in raising the level of uranium enrichment beyond the 3.67% set in the nuclear accord, in remarks posted on Khamenei's official website.</p>

<p>"For example, we need uranium enriched to 5% for use in the Bushehr (power plant) and this is a completely peaceful purpose," Velayati said, hinting that this might be the first step Iran might take in raising the enrichment level.</p>


Iran's senior nuclear negotiator will announce more cuts in its commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal on Sunday, a semi-official news agency reported, amid Iranian accusations that Tehran's European partners have failed to shield it from US sanctions.

Iran's senior nuclear negotiator will announce more cuts in its commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal on Sunday, a semi-official news agency reported, amid Iranian accusations that Tehran's European partners have failed to shield it from US sanctions. Other officials will join the top negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, in making the announcement at a news conference at 10:30 a.m. (0600 GMT), the Fars news agency reported. Tension has spiked between Tehran and Washington since last year, when Trump quit a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six powers and reimposed sanctions that had been lifted under the pact in return for Tehran curbing its sensitive nuclear work. Watch: US calls for IAEA emergency meet × Under the deal, Iran can enrich uranium to 3.67 per cent fissile material, well below the 20 per cent it was reaching before the deal and the roughly 90 per cent suitable for a nuclear weapon. In reaction to US sanctions, which have notably targeted its main foreign revenue stream in the shape of crude oil exports, Iran said in May that it would scale back its commitments to the deal after a 60-day deadline. Separately, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iranian officials were unanimous in raising the level of uranium enrichment beyond the 3.67% set in the nuclear accord, in remarks posted on Khamenei's official website. "For example, we need uranium enriched to 5% for use in the Bushehr (power plant) and this is a completely peaceful purpose," Velayati said, hinting that this might be the first step Iran might take in raising the enrichment level.

Iran to announce more cuts to nuclear deal commitments on Sunday: Report

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Iran Warns Gulf States of Retaliation | Israel Launches Fresh Strikes on Lebanon | GRAVITAS

Nuclear talks adjourned for consultations in respective capitals, resumption dates unclear

Iran's deputy foreign minister says Tehran has not lost any drone

Iran Denies Syria-Bound Tanker Charges

Iran says captured tanker wasn't headed to Syria, calls the act 'maritime robbery'

Iran to announce more cuts to nuclear deal commitments on Sunday: Report