IRGC threatens UK over support for US attacks on Iran

An IRGC spokesperson has told Iran's state broadcaster IRIB that "any country, whether the UK, the Gulf Coast countries, or others" would become a "legitimate target" if they support the US in its attacks on Iran, Al Jazeera reported.

The unnamed spokesperson pointed to the UK's role, claiming that American B-1 bombers used British airports to carry out recent attacks.

"If they cooperate with the US, they will be our definite and legitimate target," the spokesperson said.

Trump reportedly pauses further US strikes on Iran after 13 days

US President Donald Trump has reportedly decided to pause plans for further strikes on Iran following 13 consecutive days of attacks, The New York Times and Axios reported, according to the Al Jazeera.

The New York Times, citing Trump administration officials, said the decision was driven by concerns that an escalation could "dangerously drain the Pentagon's already diminished stockpile of Patriot antimissile interceptors and other air defense munitions in the Middle East". The report said the decision followed a meeting between Trump, his senior advisers and cabinet members on Friday.

Axios, citing two anonymous sources familiar with the matter, reported that it remains unclear whether the pause is temporary or marks a broader halt to US strikes. The outlet said the decision "reflects both his willingness to provide more space for diplomacy and a recognition that — short of a return to major combat operations — the current level of US strikes has reached the limit of its effectiveness".

According to Axios, the US military is also preparing contingency plans for a possible return to major combat operations.

US says naval blockade against Iran remains in effect

A US naval blockade against Iran remains in full effect, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday.

As of July 25, US forces had redirected 12 commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade, disabled two that failed to comply and boarded two others to verify compliance, CENTCOM said in a statement on X.

US forces completed a verification boarding of the Comoros-flagged oil tanker M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea earlier Saturday, after which the vessel continued its journey, according to the command.

CENTCOM also said US forces disabled the Mozambique-flagged M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman on Friday after its crew repeatedly attempted to violate the blockade and ignored multiple warnings.

The vessel is no longer heading toward Iran, it added.

Iranian army claims "almost all" US infrastructure in Iraq’s Erbil destroyed

The Iranian army claimed on Saturday that “almost all” US military infrastructure in Iraq’s Erbil had been destroyed during the recent conflict and said Tehran was now deploying attack drones more advanced than the Arash-2.

Speaking to Iranian state television, army spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Akraminia claimed Iran had inflicted serious damage on US military bases across the region, saying many of them had lost much of their operational capability.

He claimed that “almost all” US infrastructure in Erbil had been destroyed and that anti-Iran groups operating there were no longer capable of carrying out operations.

Akraminia said the US possessed extensive military capabilities, equipment and bases across the region, as well as in southern Europe and the Mediterranean, and was attempting to replace its losses.

He warned that Iran was prepared to continue military operations if the conflict resumed “until the Americans realise they cannot impose their will on the Iranian nation through aggression.”

The spokesman also claimed that while the Iranian military used Arash-2 drones during the 40-day war, it is now deploying newer drones with greater destructive power, accuracy and range. He said details of the new drones have not yet been made public.