Global

The fragile cease fire between the United States and Iran continued being tested last night, The US said it had hit 90 targets in Iran, and Iranian media reported that explosions were heard in areas along the country's southern coast. Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar have subsequently reported Iranian attacks - Iran said it had targeted US bases in the three countries. Meanwhile, ships hoping to sail through the Strait of Hormuz face a confusing picture, with both sides seeking to push traffic through different routes. Vessels have been advised to avoid going through the middle of the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing conflict. The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) - which the US is a member of - has recommended vessels take a route close to the coast of Oman at the south of the strait, in order to avoid the risk of Iranian mines. But Iran says no vessel is permitted to pass through the strait unless it travels along a designated route further north, closer to its coastline. Its Persian Gulf Strait Authority will only issue permits if that route is taken, with others "strictly prohibited". These competing attempts to manage how the strait operates have added to the fraught situation facing shipping companies in the vitally important shipping lane. The Iranian foreign ministry has accused the US of a "flagrant breach" of parts of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on 17 June, which brought about a temporary truce. That called for an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations", and said Iran would "make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels" through the Strait of Hormuz. How both sides interpret that part of the MoU has become a key point of tensions in this conflict. The foreign ministry says the US carried out attacks under the "false pretext" of responding to "alleged incidents involving several non-compliant vessels" in the strait. The US previously accused Iran of a "clear violation of the ceasefire" for targeting three commercial ships in the strait. Iran has not claimed responsibility for those attacks. The foreign ministry also condemns "crude rhetoric" from Donald Trump, who on Wednesday called Iran's leadership "scum" and "cuckoo". It accuses the US of a "grave war crime" for targeting of several locations, including two railway bridges.

TEXT OF NATO ANKARA SUMMIT DECLARATION: "We, the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance, have gathered in Ankara to reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our collective defence under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and to the transatlantic bond.  An attack on one is an attack on all.  Our unity, solidarity and collective strength remain the foundation of peace, security, and prosperity for the one billion citizens in our Alliance of free and democratic nations.  We remain committed to our 360-degree approach to deterrence and defence. To counter the long-term threat Russia poses to Euro-Atlantic security and stability, and the persistent threat of terrorism, Allies are delivering on The Hague defence commitment.  In 2025, European Allies and Canada increased their investments in core defence requirements by more than $139 billion.  Our investments are delivering the capabilities we need while strengthening our industrial base and resilience.  Today in Ankara, we announce more than $50 billion in new procurements and commit to expanding collective manufacturing capacity and working with industry to accelerate innovation.  We will continue our work to eliminate defence trade barriers among Allies and leverage NATO’s partnerships to maximise defence industrial depth and cooperation. We are building the future: a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO – a modernised Alliance.  European Allies and Canada, working with the United States, are assuming greater responsibility for the Alliance’s defence.  NATO’s deterrence and defence rest on an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional, and missile defence capabilities, complemented by space and cyber assets.  We are committed to maintaining our combat advantage.  We are investing in our ability to deploy, enable and sustain our armed forces and deliver our capability targets in all domains, including in deep precision strike, integrated air and missile defence, uncrewed systems, cutting edge technologies, and intelligence capabilities.  We are developing an interoperable transatlantic warfighting cloud and adopting powerful AI models. Ukraine contributes to transatlantic security, and Allies stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.  European Allies and Canada now finance the vast majority of security assistance to Ukraine through bilateral and multilateral means.  Allies underscore that this support must be equitable, predictable, and sustainable in the long-term.  For 2026, Allies pledge €70 billion in military equipment, assistance and training for Ukraine and affirm their sovereign commitments to sustaining at least equivalent levels in 2027.  To this end, we welcome the European Union’s decision to provide multi-year funding to Ukraine through the Ukraine Support Loan. The Alliance continues to respond and adapt to the strategic competition, pervasive instability, hybrid threats and recurrent shocks that define our broader security environment.  Allies reiterate that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon and call on Iran to fully respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. We express our appreciation for the generous hospitality extended to us by Türkiye. We look forward to our next meeting."