Khamenei says US violated Islamabad MoU as Iran, US exchange fresh strikes

• Iranian leader says Trump's signature ‘worthless’ amid escalating conflict

• Tehran says it has suspended Islamabad MoU commitments after alleged US violations

• Iran launches attacks on US-linked targets in Gulf as Washington presses military campaign

• Rising regional tensions disrupt shipping, energy infrastructure and civilian services

 TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday accused the United States of repeatedly violating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), declaring that the alleged breaches demonstrated that US President Donald Trump's signature was "utterly worthless", as Iran launched fresh attacks on Washington's Gulf allies following a seventh consecutive night of US strikes targeting Iranian military installations, including logistics infrastructure.

In a statement posted on X, Khamenei said, "The repeated breaches of the agreement by the Great Satan [the US] regarding the MOU signed by the Presidents of Iran and the US have once again laid bare a fundamental truth: the signature of the US President is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility."

The repeated breaches of the agreement by the Great Satan [the US] regarding the MOU signed by the Presidents of Iran and the US have once again laid bare a fundamental truth: the signature of the US President is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.

— Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (@MKhamenei_ir) July 18, 2026

"Coercion, totalitarianism, and brutality are inseparable components of the US creed and doctrine," he added.

Khamenei further warned that as the "American enemy seeks to ignite war and incur heavier costs and greater disgrace", it should know that the Iranian people and the "resistance front" have "unforgettable lessons" in store for it.

Coercion, totalitarianism, and brutality are inseparable components of the US creed and doctrine.

— Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (@MKhamenei_ir) July 18, 2026

Iran suspends commitments under Islamabad MoU

Now that the American enemy is seeking to escalate the conflict thereby incurring even heavier costs and further humiliation, it should know that the noble nation of Iran and the Resistance Front have unforgettable lessons in store for it.

— Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (@MKhamenei_ir) July 18, 2026

Meanwhile, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran had suspended its commitments under the recently signed Islamabad MoU, alleging that Washington had already abandoned its obligations under the agreement.

"The US has violated and suspended all its commitments within the framework of the Islamabad MoU," Gharibabadi said in a statement carried by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.

"We have also suspended our commitments, we are not implementing them, and we are busy defending the country," he added.

Separately, Iran's Health Ministry said 50 people had been killed and more than 500 others injured in US strikes since June 27.

Among those killed were five women and two children and teenagers under the age of 18, according to Hossein Kermanpour, head of the ministry's Public Relations and Information Centre, who said on X that the wounded also included 32 women and 18 children and teenagers.

در حملات هوایی ۶ تا ۲۷ تیرماه، بیش از ۵۰۰ نفر مصدوم و ۵۰ نفر شهید شدند.در میان شهدا، ۵ زن و ۲ کودک و نوجوان زیر ۱۸ سال و در میان مصدومان ۳۲ زن و ۱۸ کودک و نوجوان دیده می‌شوند. تاکنون ۲۸ عمل جراحی انجام شده، ۴۶۰ نفر ترخیص و ۳۷ نفر همچنان بستری هستند. #تیم_ملی_سلامت#وزارت_بهداشت

— حسین کرمانپور Hossein.Kermanpour (@HKermanpour) July 18, 2026

Iran targets US-linked facilities in Gulf

Earlier on Saturday, Iran launched strikes targeting United States military bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, while an adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that the conflict was entering a more "aggressive" and "destructive" phase.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said its naval forces carried out missile and drone attacks on a US fleet fuel support pier at Al Ahmadi Port in Kuwait and Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.

The IRGC also claimed to have destroyed a US intelligence data centre in Bahrain, identified as Batelco, as well as a US signals and communications centre in Kuwait, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Footage captures the aftermath of Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting a military complex in Kuwait.

Follow Press TV on Telegram: https://t.co/h0eMpifVIe pic.twitter.com/nssIKwznTE

— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) July 18, 2026

Separately, recent US attacks on Hormozgan province in southern Iran killed "about seven to eight people", all civilians, according to provincial representative Ahmad Moradi, who told Tasnim that one strike targeted a bridge, hitting two family vehicles and killing six people.

The report added that the Tappeh Allaho Akbar neighbourhood in Bandar Abbas was also struck, killing a woman, seriously injuring a one-year-old child who later underwent an amputation, while a fuel delivery driver was killed in a fire.

 Kuwait reports damage to oil facility

The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said one of its vital oil facilities had come under repeated Iranian attacks, resulting in injuries and significant material damage.

According to a statement carried by Kuna news agency and cited by Al Jazeera, the injured received medical treatment while the site was evacuated and emergency response operations were conducted in coordination with the relevant authorities.

 Water shortages reported after US strike

An Iranian provincial official said a US strike on a water desalination plant in the coastal village of Bunji, in Hormozgan province, disrupted drinking water supplies to around 10,000 people.

Tasnim quoted the Chief Executive Officer of the Hormozgan Water and Wastewater Company as saying the attack completely halted water supplies to 20 villages, creating a severe water shortage crisis.

 Firefighters injured in Kuwait

Kuwait's Fire Force said several firefighters and a worker were injured while responding to fires at two locations following the Iranian attacks on Saturday morning.

According to a statement cited by Al Jazeera, the affected personnel were evacuated and provided with medical assistance after sustaining injuries during firefighting operations.

 IRGC claims strike on US base in Jordan

The IRGC also claimed responsibility for what it described as a "devastating and simultaneous missile and drone attack" on fighter aircraft shelters and a large parking area at the US Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan.

According to Al Jazeera, the IRGC claimed the attack completely destroyed at least two American fighter jets and caused significant damage to several others.

Iran also called on the Jordanian military to target US forces, describing them as "legitimate targets" and urging action against what it termed "invading" forces.

 Conflict intensifies after ceasefire collapse

Iran renewed attacks on US-allied Gulf states after a seventh consecutive night of US strikes targeting Iranian military facilities and logistics infrastructure, deepening the conflict one week after the collapse of a fragile ceasefire agreement.

Both sides also intensified pressure on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington saying it was enforcing a naval blockade while Tehran said it was targeting vessels allegedly violating Iranian navigation rules in the strategic waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass.

Oil prices climbed more than 4 percent on Friday to their highest level in over a month, increasing political pressure on President Donald Trump ahead of November's congressional elections.

Washington and Tehran have continued testing the limits of military escalation since the ceasefire collapsed, raising fears of a return to full-scale conflict.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its latest operations targeted surveillance facilities, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage sites and maritime capabilities using fighter aircraft, drones, warships and other military assets.

https://t.co/7V8iGAGbGh

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 18, 2026

"US forces employed fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships in addition to other assets," CENTCOM said, adding that more than 50,000 American service members remain deployed across the Middle East.

Iranian media reported that several missiles struck power facilities and desalination pumps in the southern city of Jask, disrupting drinking water supplies to surrounding villages.

The United States also said its forces redirected four commercial vessels, disabled one and boarded another while enforcing its naval blockade.

In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said four vessels accused of violating Iranian shipping regulations were stopped through combined missile and drone operations.

Iranian media, citing the Revolutionary Guards, also reported that two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after passing through a mined route south of the Strait of Hormuz, a claim the US military rejected as false.

Separately, armed men seized another vessel off the coast of Yemen, heightening concerns over security at another critical maritime chokepoint at the entrance to the Red Sea.

Iranian state television quoted the Revolutionary Guards as saying that until what it described as US "aggression" ended, it would not be possible to export chemical fertilisers or even "a single drop of oil and gas" from the region.

Meanwhile, Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, warned against further US escalation or any attempt to seize Iranian territory.

 Bahrain says it repelled several Iranian aerial attacks

Bahrain's Defense Force said on Saturday that it intercepted and destroyed several aerial attacks launched by Iran.

"The General Command affirms that all its weapons and units are at the highest levels of readiness and are on high alert" to protect the Bahraini territory, the force said in a post through US social media company X.

تعلن القيادة العامة لقوة دفاع البحرين أن إيران تواصل نهجها العدائي الممنهج عبر اعتداءاتها الآثمة التي تستهدف المدنيين في مملكة البحرين.https://t.co/hMBrbS9FHJ pic.twitter.com/7fG8w2fOx0

— قوة دفاع البحرين (@BDF_Bahrain) July 18, 2026

"The deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law," it said.

 Fire erupts at Kuwait's power, water desalination plant after Iranian attacks

Kuwait’s Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Ministry said that a fire broke out at a component of a power generation and water desalination plant following Iranian attacks early Saturday.

"This necessitated taking precautionary operational measures to ensure the safety of the plant and the stability of the electrical grid," the ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run news agency KUNA.

The incident prompted activation of emergency plans, it added.

Kuwait International Airport temporarily suspends operations, national carrier says

Takeoff and landing operations have temporarily been suspended at Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait's national carrier announced on Saturday, adding that it rescheduled most of its flights due to the measure.

"Most flights have been rescheduled due to the temporary suspension of takeoffs and landings at Kuwait International Airport as a result of the Iranian aggression," Kuwait Airways said in a statement carried by the state-run KUNA news agency.

"Passengers are advised to stay updated on their flight status," the carrier noted.

 Iran’s IRGC warns countries hosting US forces to prepare for ‘corresponding response’

Iran’s IRGC warned countries hosting US military forces to prepare for a “corresponding response”, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, as per Al Jazeera's reporting.

The IRGC said on Saturday that such nations “activate their civil defence units to protect their citizens and move them away from potential military targets”, stating that their territories are being used as launchpads for aggression against Iran.

According to the Tasnim report, the IRGC Ground Forces used drones and missiles to target a US military logistics hub at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, claiming to have caused casualties among the personnel there.

 Kuwait says engaging Iranian missile, drone attacks

The Kuwaiti army said on Saturday that its air defense forces are "currently responding to hostile missile and drone threats" launched by Iran.

"The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces confirms that any explosions that may be heard are the result of air defence systems intercepting hostile targets," the army said in a post through US social media company X.

It called on the people to follow security instructions issued by the Kuwaiti officials.

The developments come amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where the US launches strikes on Iran, and Tehran retaliates with strikes on regional countries, including Kuwait, home to US military assets.

 US reissues Middle East travel warning amid heightened regional tensions

The US State Department on Friday renewed its travel warning for the Middle East, citing heightened tensions and urging Americans in the region to remain cautious.

"Due to high tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation," it said in an advisory shared by its Bureau of Consular Affairs on US social media platform X.

The agency encouraged Americans in the region to monitor news reports for breaking developments and advised those traveling in or through the area to confirm flight schedules with their air carriers.

Washington also urged US citizens to reconsider travel to or through the Middle East and directed travelers to review country-specific security alerts.

 Jordan intercepted 10 Iranian missiles

Jordan's Armed Forces announced on Saturday that their air defense units intercepted 10 Iranian missiles aimed at the kingdom during the early morning hours.

The interceptions were part of defensive and operational efforts to protect the country's sovereignty, secure its airspace and ensure the safety of its citizens, according to a statement from a military official at the General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces, carried by the Jordan News Agency.

The military said there were no casualties or property damage.

It also said that teams from the Royal Engineering Corps were deployed to collect missile debris that landed in various parts of the country, securing the affected areas in line with established technical and security protocols.

#Jordan denounces renewed Iranian attacks on #Bahrain, #Kuwait https://t.co/3wq2r2nJXG#Petra pic.twitter.com/WhabBRopAN

— Jordan News Agency (Petra)-English News (@PetranewsEN) July 18, 2026

Missiles targeted US military assets and fuel tanks in Bahrain, says Iran’s military

US military assets and fuel tanks were struck during Iran's missile attacks on a US base in Bahrain, according to the Iranian military as reported by the Tasnim news agency, as per Al Jazeera.

In the statement, Iran’s military said “in response to the crimes of global arrogance”, it has targeted the “aircraft hangar and parking lot” as well as “fuel tanks” at the Sheikh Isa airbase and several communication bridges in Bahrain.

 The statement said the US had used the base to launch “operations against regional targets, especially our country”.

 Former IRGC chief says both 'negotiations and war' are over

Former IRGC commander-in-chief Mohsen Rezaei stated early on Saturday that "both diplomacy and negotiations, as well as war, are over."

"If America continues the war in the next 2-3 days, we will enter the stage of the enemy's 'full-scale invasion and annihilation,' he stated.

سیاست هم مذاکره هم جنگ تمام شد؛ اگر آمریکا طی ۲-۳ روز آینده جنگ را ادامه دهد، وارد مرحلهٔ «تهاجم و انهدام کامل» دشمن خواهیم شد. در صورت فعال‌سازی این راهبرد دیگر به مقابله‌به‌مثل اکتفا نمی‌کنیم و هیچ مرز سیاسی در مقابل نیروهای تهاجمی ایران امنیت نخواهد داشت.

— محسن رضایی (@ir_rezaee) July 17, 2026

"In the event of activating this strategy, we will no longer settle for retaliation in kind, and no political border will provide security against Iran's offensive forces."

 Concern over infrastructure

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was concerned about the escalation, particularly “attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and across the region," his spokesperson said.

The ⁠US military's Central Command said its targets included "military logistics infrastructure", the first time it mentioned infrastructure in more than a week.

Iranian media reported enemy strikes early on Saturday in coastal Hormozgan Province on the Iranian side of the Strait of Hormuz. State TV said three people were killed and eight wounded while two bridges and a road tunnel were damaged.

Iranian media reported explosions heard or strikes carried out in Sirik, Ahvaz, Yazd, Jask and Khorramabad late Friday or early Saturday.

On Friday, Iranian state media said at least five bridges were struck in the south in US attacks. Seven people were reported killed in attacks on bridges in the southern port of Bandar Khamir, where a train station was also hit. An airport was reported hit further east and ⁠away from the coast in Iranshahr, in a province bordering Pakistan.

Trump has threatened to launch broad-based air strikes on Iran's infrastructure and has also declined to rule out a ground assault on Iran's coast or islands. US officials have said attacks on southern Iran are designed in part to give Trump options.

Such moves risk provoking Iran to attack the vital infrastructure of vulnerable Gulf states, or having its allies in Yemen further disrupt global energy supplies by attacking shipping from the Red Sea.

Iran announced attacks on Gulf countries ⁠that host US airbases, including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, in addition to a US vessel in the northern Indian Ocean. Saudi Arabia's civil defence issued early warnings, the first in several months, in at least two places but had yet to report any damage. Earlier in the war, Iran hit some of the oil-rich kingdom's energy facilities.

📹 برخاستن ستون‌های دود از پایگاه آمریکا در اردن پس از حمله ایران

منابع محلی از بلند شدن ستون‌های غلیظ دود از پایگاه هوایی موفق‌السلطی در اردن پس از حملات موشکی و پهپادی ایران خبر می‌دهند

شدت آتش‌سوزی به حدی است که دود حاصل از آن از فاصله دور قابل مشاهده است pic.twitter.com/kTKXw3AG5f

— خبرگزاری تسنیم (@Tasnimnews_Fa) July 18, 2026

Authorities in Kuwait said one of the country's power generation and water desalination stations had been hit in an Iranian attack, causing ⁠damage, a fire and the disruption of a large number of electricity generation units.

The Kuwaiti army later said it was responding to Iranian drone attacks.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said it attacked a depot of US drones in Bahrain and destroyed Bahrain's main artificial intelligence centre with ballistic missiles and drones.

State news agency IRNA reported the Iranian navy fired a shore-to-sea cruise missile towards what it called a hostile US vessel in the northern Indian Ocean. Iran's army said the missile launch caused "fear and panic" and forced the vessel to move out of range of Iran's navy.