US Says Seven Commercial Vessels Redirected In Iran Blockade
US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, said on July 20 that its forces were continuing flight operations from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer in support of the naval blockade of Iran.
CENTCOM said the military had redirected seven commercial vessels and disabled one to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports.
She Sang And Now Faces 74 Lashes. Iran Sentences Another Female Musician
Another female singer in Iran has been sentenced to 74 lashes after sharing a music video of herself performing without a head covering.
The underground Tehran-based performer, who goes by the name Anita Popist, said she was sentenced for "violating public decency."
Iran has been cracking down on female musicians who perform solo in public and violate its strict dress code. The ruling comes a month after singer Parastoo Ahmadi was sentenced to the same punishment.
Reports Of 'Air Strike' In Shiraz
Iranian media and some social media users reported hearing explosions in the southern city of Shiraz in the evening of July 20.
Fars news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said preliminary reports indicated an "air strike" had targeted a location in the city's northwest.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, has not issued a statement on the reported strike.
The latest round of fighting between the United States and Iran has entered its eighth day.
Iranian media reported early on July 20 that locations in the provinces of East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, and Bushehr had also come under attack.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda
Kuwait Says It's Responding To 'Hostile' Attacks
Kuwait said its air defenses were "confronting hostile missile and drone attacks" on July 20 as Tehran intensified strikes on Persian Gulf states and the United States continued to expand its strikes across Iran.
Explosions were heard in Kuwait City, according to an AFP journalist, while neighboring Bahrain said air raid sirens had sounded after missiles and drones were detected.
With reporting by AFP
Two Tankers Hit Off Oman
Two tankers managed by the Greek shipping company Dynacom Tankers were struck by projectiles of unknown origin off the coast of Oman on July 20, underscoring mounting risks to commercial shipping in the Middle East as the conflict between the United States and Iran intensifies.
Dynacom said the Malta-flagged tanker Kavomaleas was hit by two projectiles, causing a fire in its engine room.
"After deploying the shipboard fire suppression system, the master made the decision to evacuate the vessel," the company said.
All crew members were rescued by Omani authorities, and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations shipping security monitor said no environmental impact was reported
Dynacom said a second vessel, the Liberian-flagged Acheloos, was also struck.
"All crew members are safe and all accounted for," Dynacom said, adding that there were no reports of pollution.
The maritime security firm Marisks said both vessels were transiting the US-facilitated southern Hormuz corridor when they were hit.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said two tankers had "exploded" after attempting what it called an unsafe southern route, though it was unclear whether those claims referred to the Dynacom vessels.
With reporting by Reuters
Iran Official Says Regional Mediators Submitting Proposals For Peace
An Iran official says mediating countries have submitted proposals to stop the clashes with the United States.
"We have been informed of the proposals put forward through the mediators and have received them, but let me not go into their details at this time," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei at a press conference on July 20 in response to a question about Qatar's proposal for a 10-day cease-fire between Iran and the United States.
On July 19, reports emerged in some media outlets about Qatar's plan for a cease-fire between Iran and the United States and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for 10 days. The Qatari Foreign Ministry said the country's government supports all efforts to reduce tensions and reach a comprehensive agreement that will lead to lasting peace in the region.
Baqaei also said in response to a question about US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent statement regarding Washington's readiness for diplomacy and dialogue with Tehran: "We have seen and tested their readiness many times. When America talks about diplomacy, it means imposition, intimidation, threats, and sanctions."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late on July 19 that the United States continues to welcome a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Iran, despite the US military's repeated attacks on targets in the country.
Baqaei said that insisting on the "negotiations or war" binary is not beneficial for Iran, adding: "Diplomacy does not negate defense, and defense is not incompatible with diplomacy."
Bahrain Says Air Traffic Operational Despite Iranian Attacks
Bahrain's Civil Aviation Authority said on July 20 that aviation traffic in the country continued despite Iran targeting its civilian air navigation systems.
In a statement, the organization said: "As a result of Iran's hostile action against the Kingdom of Bahrain, civilian air navigation systems operating in the country's regional flight information were targeted by hostile drones. However, air navigation operations were not affected."
Bahraini aviation authorities have said that "flights and air traffic" are operating normally.
Since the start of a new round of US attacks on Iran, Bahrain has been one of the main targets of Tehran's retaliatory attacks and has continuously witnessed missile and drone attacks by the Islamic republic.
Cafes Reportedly Being Closed In Tehran
Reports from a number of social media users in Iran indicate that several cafes on Sanai and Iranshahr streets in Tehran have been sealed by authorities.
Screenwriter Jamileh Darolshafaei, who worked at one of the cafes on Iranshahr Street, was among those who shared the news on X.
She wrote that the cafe had previously been notified that officials would come to seal the premises.
Authorities have not yet issued an official explanation for the latest restrictions on cafes, which are popular public gathering places, particularly among young people. However, most reports shared on social media attribute the closures to enforcement of Iran's mandatory hijab rules.
Other reasons cited in social media reports include "failure to observe public decency," "obstructing public thoroughfares," and "trade-related violations."
Journalist Bahman Darolshafaei also reported the closures, naming several cafes on Sanai Street that had been sealed.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly shut down cafes and other public venues in recent years on the grounds that they failed to enforce the country's mandatory hijab regulations, a practice that has drawn widespread criticism.
Attacks On Iranian Cities Reported
Iranian media reported new attacks on several cities on the morning of July 20.
The state-run Mehr news agency, citing an official from West Azerbaijan Province, reported that "a point near the Silvana district of Urmia" was targeted, and reported that several people were injured and taken to medical centers following the attack.
An official for East Azerbaijan Province said one person was killed and several others were injured in an attack on "a military area in the city of Tabriz" on July 20.
East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan are both located in northwestern Iran. Most of the attacks so far have been along the southern coastline.
An explosion was heard in the central city of Isfahan but said that "the exact cause and origin of this loud sound have not been determined."
However, an official from Isfahan Province told ILNA news agency that the explosion was caused by "unexploded ordnance left over from the war."
The Fars news agency quoted the governor of Bushehr as saying the city was attacked twice on July 20. Bushehr is home to Iran's sole nuclear power plant. It was not yet clear whether the plant was targeted.
The report of new attacks on Iran comes hours after CENTCOM, the US military's Central Command, announced the end of its new attacks on Iran.
Global Oil Prices Surpass $90 Per Barrel
As the United States and Iran continued to trade strikes for the ninth consecutive night, the price of Brent oil rose above $90 per barrel for the first time in a month.
The price of US crude oil also increased by more than 2 percent, exceeding $84 per barrel.
The rise in global oil prices has been exacerbated by reports of a decrease in the number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US dollar also strengthened slightly against most major currencies in early Asian trading on July 20, following escalating conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, oil prices rose and investor confidence remained fragile after last week's volatility.
The US dollar rose 1 percent to 162.48 yen, its highest level in 11 days, as rising geopolitical tensions prompted investors to flee to safe haven assets.
In general, stock markets in Asia also started their working week on July 20 with a decline in value.
Rising fuel prices have revived concerns about the return of inflation in Western countries.