Iran-US war latest: Vance says US in ‘great position’ even if talks fail in Qatar

Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett has claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu is “incapable of governing his own government” because of being controlled by his far‑right ministers.

Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, alongside ultra‑Orthodox groups such as Haredim, “control him”, Bennett told Mario Nawfal.

Bennet said he would not have allowed the far-right politicians, whom he said make “really stupid statements,” into a government.“Netanyahu can no longer do that because he depends upon them,” Benett added.

Iranian officials have said their country has a right to manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz alongside US ally Oman, located on the other side of the strait.

Iran said the country would impose tolls on ships from mid-August, when the 60-day ⁠memorandum of understanding with the US expires.

“The sovereignty of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran and Oman, and traffic in the Strait is subject to arrangements determined by Iran,” Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, said on state TV.

US member of congress Rashida Tlaib has said that she will vote for an amendment in the House to block $3.3bn in military funding for Israel.

The Palestinian-American lawmaker said: “We should not spend another cent arming a military that is committing genocide in Palestine, ethnically cleansing Lebanon, and committing war crimes in Iran.”

“A majority of Americans and a supermajority of Democrats support ending military aid to Israel. It’s time their representatives listened,” she wrote on X.

Amirhossein Miresmaeili hears from unimpressed protestors within Iran who feel betrayed by Donald Trump’s promises of regime change.

A police officer was killed as gunmen opened fire in Sib and Suran county in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, the provincial police information centre said this morning.

Mohammad Palangi, a Sunni Baluch officer, was on his way to work when he was shot at, the authorities said.

Football fan and founder of Palestine’s first national team for people of short stature, Haitham Al-Saqqa describes the danger of watching matches in the enclave, Maira Butt reports.

Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has claimed that Tehran has been unable to sell any oil during the US blockade on its ports.

“From the day the blockade was lifted until today, we have exported more than 40 million barrels of oil,” he told state TV.

“By contrast, during the previous 50 to nearly 60 days, we were genuinely unable to export even a single barrel of oil,” he added.

Ghalibaf added that Iran was prioritising diplomacy with the US, but remained prepared to go to war should Trump attack again.

“We are pursuing dialogue, but if the dialogue is not implemented, we are also prepared for war and will respond accordingly,” he said.

South Korean cargo vessel Namu is set to leave the Strait of Hormuz by mid-July following repairs for damage sustained in a May attack.

Seoul had initially pointed to an Iranian anti-ship missile as the likely cause for the damage, although responsibility for the incident was still to be officially determined.

The hull of the bulk carrier, operated by HMM, was struck near the stern. Following the incident, Seoul stated on 27 May that an Iranian anti-ship missile was the probable cause, leading to the summoning of Iran’s ambassador to share investigation findings and lodge a formal protest.

Israeli pime minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday visited Lebanese territory occupied by the Israeli military and told soldiers that Israel would not withdraw from the country’s south ‌as long as Iran-backed Hezbollah continued to pose a threat.

It was the first visit by Netanyahu to occupied Lebanese territory since the Israeli and Lebanese governments reached a security agreement last Friday, mediated by the US, under which Israel will hand over two areas to Lebanon’s army.

“Our insistence is that we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat is removed,” Netanyahu told troops, according to a statement released by his office, referring to Hezbollah.

“And as long as Hezbollah remains here, armed and threatening ⁠us, we will remain here as well,” he said.

Netanyahu, who last publicly visited occupied Lebanese territory in April, was joined by defence minister Israel Katz and senior military officials.