Iran rules out immediate talks with US, says focus remains on defending country

Tehran (Web Desk): Iran has ruled out any immediate talks with the United States, saying its priority is defending the country rather than pursuing diplomacy.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Wednesday that Iran would honour its international commitments only if Washington fulfilled its own obligations.

He said Tehran stopped implementing the memorandum of understanding after the US failed to uphold the temporary agreement, adding that Iran suspended its corresponding commitments once the other side breached the deal.

Meanwhile, the United States launched a fresh wave of military strikes against Iran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said precision attacks targeted coastal defence systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island during a 90-minute operation.

The military said the strikes were aimed at weakening Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

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— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 15, 2026

 Earlier, CENTCOM said another phase of attacks had begun to further degrade Iran’s military capabilities.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that if Iranian energy exports remain blocked, no country in the region should expect unrestricted oil and gas exports. The force also vowed to shut down other export routes benefiting the US and its allies following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Washington’s renewed naval blockade.

The latest exchange has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced the return of the naval blockade on Iran and initially proposed a 20 percent transit fee for ships using the Strait of Hormuz before dropping the plan after requests from Gulf allies.

Trump later claimed in an interview that Iran had already used most of its strongest missiles.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strongly condemned Iranian attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.

Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi described the strikes as a dangerous escalation, urged the international community to deter further attacks and reaffirmed the GCC’s support for the three countries. Bahrain also said it intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks targeting civilians and urged residents to avoid suspicious objects.

Iranian officials said overnight US strikes killed at least seven military personnel at a base in Bampur after 13 missiles struck accommodation buildings and guard posts near Iranshahr.

According to Iranian army, 7 Iranian military personnel were martyred last night in US attacks in the Iranian city of Iranshahr.

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— Press TV (@PressTV) July 15, 2026

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani also reported that more than 30 civilians had been killed in recent attacks in southern Iran, while officials confirmed fresh US strikes on three locations in Bushehr without casualties.

Authorities further said overnight US attacks damaged the civilian maritime traffic control centre at Chabahar Port, though no injuries were reported.

Analysts have warned that Iran may also use its Houthi allies in Yemen to disrupt shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising concerns that another key global energy and trade route could be drawn into the conflict.