
Two Supertankers U-Turn in Strait of Hormuz After US Strikes
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US issues ‘worldwide caution’ for Americans over Middle East conflict
Israel-Iran war news LIVE updates. The war between Israel and Iran has now entered its second week. The latest round of open hostilities began after a series of Israeli air raids on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The initial attacks triggered Iranian retaliation, subsequently leading to a significant escalation on both sides.
On Saturday (Jun 21) the United States entered the Israel-Iran war, striking three nuclear sites in Iran -Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. This comes just a day after US President Donald Trump on Friday (Jun 20) warned that Iran had a “maximum” of two weeks to avoid possible American air strikes. He said that he was not inclined to stop Israel attacking Iran because it was “winning,” and said that “I’m giving them (Tehran) a period of time, and I would say two weeks would be the maximum.”
What are Israel and Iran fighting about?
The ongoing conflict is the most direct confrontation between Israel and Iran in recent years. The two nations have a history of geopolitical tensions. The ongoing war has at its root Iran’s nuclear programme, which Israel views as an existential threat, claiming it’s a cover for building a bomb—something Tehran denies.
Follow WION’s live coverage of the Israel-Iran war here:
Two oil supertankers make U-turns in Strait of Hormuz after US strikes
Two oil supertankers make U-turns in Strait of Hormuz after US strikes. The Coswisdom Lake and South Loyalty both entered the waterway and abruptly changed course on June 22. The two empty freighters then sailed south, away from the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Oil tanker owners and traders are closely watching for signs that the escalation in the Middle East will affect vessel movements and flows. The benchmark rate for a supertanker capable of hauling two million barrels of crude from the Middle Eastern to China jumped to 70 to 71 Worldscale points on June 17.
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LONDON – Two supertankers both capable of hauling about two million barrels of crude made U-turns in the Strait of Hormuz after US air strikes on Iran raised the risk of a response that will ensnare commercial shipping in the region.
The Coswisdom Lake and South Loyalty both entered the waterway and abruptly changed course on June 22, according to vessel tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. The two empty freighters then sailed south, away from the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Ships’ electronics and signals have increasingly been jammed in the Persian Gulf since Israeli air strikes on June 13, but the two vessels’ arrivals – and subsequent turnarounds – have the hallmarks of normal tanker movements.
Together, the tankers offer the first signs of a re-routing of oil ships following the US strikes. It is possible vessels may prefer to station themselves outside Hormuz if they expect a wait upon arrival at their loading port given the higher tensions.
Oil tanker owners and traders are closely watching for signs that the escalation in the Middle East will affect vessel movements and flows. Earlier on June 22, Greece’s shipping ministry issued a notification advising its ships to reassess movements through Hormuz and to instead shelter in safe ports until the situation calms.
Oil shipping rates for Middle Eastern routes have already spiked after some tanker owners and managers paused offering vessels as tensions in the Middle East rose, fuelling concerns over flows from the region.
Key rates for supertankers voyaging from the Middle East to East Asia rose almost 60 per cent in less than a week, according to shipbrokers and charterers, as exporters who had been trying to book ships were met with few offers.
The benchmark rate for a supertanker capable of hauling two million barrels of crude from the Middle East to China jumped to 70 to 71 Worldscale points on June 17, up from about 44 on June 12, before Israel struck Iran, according to shipbrokers. Worldscale points are a percentage of an underlying flat rate, which is set for each major route at the start of the year.
On a per-day basis, chartering costs were near US$46,000 (S$59,000) on June 17, according to data from the Baltic Exchange. This is up by more than US$12,000 from the prior session, the biggest gain since February 2024. bloomberg
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Morning digest: June 23, 2025
Iranian Parliament votes to close vital Strait of Hormuz after U.S. strikes on nuclear sites. disruptions likely to impact oil prices for India. U.N. chief Antonio Guterres warns against yet “another cycle of destruction” and retaliation. India debunks claims of U.s. using Indian airspace for Iran strikes, PIB Fact Check confirms. ‘Anti-Naxal’ campaigns to continue in monsoon, says Amit Shah. The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest stealth multi-role frigate on July 1 at Kalradining in Russia. The INS Tamal will be the last warship of the Indian Navy to have been built outside India and the eighth in the series of Krivak-class frigates inducted from Russia over the past two decades. The ceremony will be presided over by Western Naval Commander Vice Admiral Sanjay J. J. Singh before the Indian government considers an update to electoral rolls before the general election in 2026.
Iran’s Parliament, the Majlis, has reportedly approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the attacks by the U.S. on Iranian nuclear facilities, the country’s state-owned media PressTV reported on Sunday (June 22, 2025), citing Esmaeil Kowsari, a member of the Majlis. According to the report, the final decision on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and is one of the world’s most important oil trade routes. India imports about 80% of its oil requirement, meaning that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz will likely impact the price of oil that India purchases. The Strait of Hormuz is also a vital trade route for ships travelling to and from India.
United Nations chief warns of cycle of retaliation after U.S. bombs Iran
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned Sunday (June 22, 2025) against yet “another cycle of destruction” and retaliation following the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which he said marked a “perilous turn” in the region. “I have repeatedly condemned any military escalation in the Middle East,” the secretary-general told an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. “The people of the region cannot endure another cycle of destruction. And yet, we now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation,” he added.
‘Anti-Naxal’ campaigns to continue in monsoon, says Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (June 22, 2025) said that for the first time, ”anti-Naxal” operations would continue during the monsoon even as he reiterated his appeal that Naxals lay down arms and join the mainstream. “Every time during the rainy season, Naxalites used to get rest, but this time, we will not let them sleep during monsoon and we will move further to achieve the target of 31/3 (2026, to eliminate Naxalism_,” Mr. Shah said, laying the foundation stone for the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) campus and a Central Forensic Science Lab in Chhattisgarh’s Nava Raipur Atal Nagar.
India debunks claims of U.S. using Indian airspace for Iran strikes, PIB Fact Check confirms
India on Sunday (June 22, 2025) dismissed as “fake” claims by certain social media handles that the U.S. fighter jets used Indian airspace to launch strikes against Iran. The U.S. bombed three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday (June 22, 2025), with U.S. President Donald Trump warning of additional strikes if Iran retaliates. “Several social media accounts have claimed that Indian airspace was used by the United States to launch aircraft against Iran during Operation #MidnightHammer. This claim is fake,” PIB Fact Check said in a post on X.
NIA nabs one more in Maoist revival conspiracy case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday (June 22, 2025) arrested a key accused involved in the attempts to revive a Communist Party of India (Maoist) Northern Region Bureau (NRB) terror module. The agency also seized digital devices, including hard drives, pen drives, and mobile phones, as well as other “incriminating” material during a search in the West Delhi house of the accused person identified as Vishal Singh, originally from Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura. “Investigations have revealed that the accused, a member of the CPI (Maoist), had delivered a drone to leaders of the banned terror outfit in Chhakarbanda/Panchrukhiya forest area of Bihar to further its anti-national activities,” the probe agency said.
INS Tamal, India’s last imported warship, to be commissioned on July 1
The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest stealth multi-role frigate INS Tamal on July 1 at Kaliningrad in Russia. This will be the last warship of the Indian Navy to have been built outside India and the eighth in the series of Krivak-class frigates inducted from Russia over the past two decades. The ceremony will be presided over by Western Naval Commander Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh in the presence of several high-ranking Indian and Russian government and defence officials.
ECI considers intensive house-to-house verification to update electoral rolls before Bihar Assembly election
Amid allegations by Opposition parties over alleged manipulation of voter rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday (June 22, 2025) said it was contemplating intensive house-to-house verification for the revision of electoral rolls before the upcoming Bihar Assembly election. This approach is being considered as, in the past, persistent concerns have been raised by various civil society organisations, political parties, and agencies on the inclusion or deletion of names of electors from the rolls, sources in the ECI said.
Another flight from Iran carrying 311 Indians lands in Delhi; over 1,400 evacuated so far
India on Sunday (June 22, 2025) evacuated more than 300 Indian nationals from Iran amid the escalating tensions between the Persian Gulf nation and Israel following the U.S. bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said 311 Indians landed in Delhi on a special flight from the Iranian city of Mashhad. With the fresh batch of evacuees, the total number of those brought back from Iran now stands at 1,428. Three-hundred eleven Indian nationals arrived in New Delhi on a special flight from Mashhad at 4:30 p.m. on June 22, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
DGCA launches comprehensive safety audit to ensure aviation safety
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a comprehensive safety audit to provide a holistic evaluation of the aviation sector by meticulously examining safety, operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. The aviation regulator’s new audit framework is expected to proactively identify systemic vulnerabilities, enhance resilience and ensure strict adherence to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and India’s national aviation objectives. The move to strengthen the safety infrastructure comes days after the tragic crash of London-bound Air India flight AI-171 moments after takeoff in Ahmedabad.
Air India to temporarily reduce flights operated with narrow-body planes on 19 routes
Air India on Sunday (June 22, 2025) said it will temporarily reduce 118 weekly flights operated with narrow-body planes on 19 routes and suspend services on three routes. The announcement comes days after the Tata Group-owned carrier said it will cut international flights operated with wide-body planes by 15% temporarily. In a statement, the airline said it is going for “temporary cuts of less than 5% to its overall narrow-body network”. It said, “This voluntary decision leads to the temporary suspension of Air India’s services on 3 routes and reduction of frequency on 19 routes. The changes are effective until at least 15 July 2025.”
U.S. travel advisory warns citizens of crime, rape, terrorism in India, urges ‘increased caution’
The U.S. has issued an advisory for its citizens travelling to India, urging “increased caution” due to crime and rape, and advising them not to travel to certain parts of central and eastern parts of the country due to terrorism. The travel advisory issued last week states that “rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India” and violent crimes, including sexual assault, happen at tourist sites and other locations. It added that terrorists, who target tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls and government facilities, may attack with little or no warning. The advisory also tells U.S. citizens not to travel to parts of Central and East India “due to terrorism.”
Iranian ambassador says U.S. ‘decided to destroy diplomacy’ with strikes on nuclear sites
Iran said Sunday (June 22, 2025) that the U.S. “decided to destroy diplomacy” with its strikes on the country’s nuclear programme and that the Iranian military will decide the “timing, nature and scale of Iran’s proportionate response”. Iran’s United Nations ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, spoke to an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council hours after the U.S. inserted itself into Israel’s war against Iran by striking three nuclear sites inside the Islamic Republic.
U.S. President Trump hints at potential regime change in Iran
The Trump administration on Sunday (June 22, 2025) sent a series of conflicting messages to Iran — with U.S. officials initially indicating a willingness to resume negotiations after a surprise attack on three of the country’s nuclear sites and President Donald Trump talking up the possibility of regime change. “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change’, but if the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why wouldn’t there be a regime change?” Mr. Trump posted on social media. “MIGA!!!”
At least 20 dead in Syria church attack; Government blames Islamic State
At least 20 people were killed Sunday (June 22, 2025) in a suicide attack on a church in Damascus, authorities said, with Syria’s Interior Ministry blaming a member of the Islamic State group. The international community condemned the attack, the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces toppled long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, and the first on a church there since the country’s civil war erupted in 2011. The Interior Ministry said in a statement that “a suicide attacker affiliated with the Daesh (IS) terrorist group entered the Saint Elias church in the Dwelaa area of the capital Damascus, where he opened fire and then blew himself up with an explosive belt”.
Over 100 firefighters battle large wildfire on eastern Greek island of Chios
More than 100 firefighters assisted by water-dropping helicopters and planes were battling a large wildfire burning near the main town of the eastern Aegean island of Chios Sunday (June 22, 2025), with emergency services ordering the evacuation of a dozen areas. The fire department said three separate blazes had broken out in the morning and mid-day on Sunday (June 22, 2025) near the town of Chios. The flames were fanned by strong winds, leaving firefighters struggling to contain what turned into one large blaze. The fire department said it was sending an arson investigation team to the island.
Ind vs Eng, 1st Test Day 3: Bumrah hands India a slender lead
Trying to get near a 471-run first-innings total would have been a steep climb for most sides. But so emphatically did England turn the tables on India that for most of day three of the first Test in Headingley, it was the visitors — despite a rejuvenating, cool breeze blowing across the ground — who resembled a pack of tired cyclists staring at a hulking mountain. England, from an overnight 209 for three, fought India to a standstill, ending its first essay just six runs adrift. For the remaining two days, the forecast is for grey skies. That means India has to bat well, both for time and runs. India showed the stomach for a fight by reaching 90 for two, propelled by a silken K.L. Rahul knock (47 batting, 75b, 7×4). Jasprit Bumrah got a deserved fifer (24.4-5-83-5), but by the time the 31-year-old earned his fourth and fifth wickets.
Iran-Israel war Highlights | June 22: Israel carries out strikes on military targets in Iran
The death toll from the conflict has now crossed 400 in Iran, with the Iranian health ministry reporting 430 deaths. In Israel, authorities have reported at least 24 deaths since the escalation of the conflict last week. Health officials have further stated that over 3,500 people have been injured due to Israeli strikes and attacks in the region.
Iran Israel war news highlights: As the Israel-Iran conflict rages on, the United States has now joined in on strikes against Iran and targeted three nuclear sites in the region. Speaking at the White House, Trump called the strikes a “spectacular success” and warned of “greater force” if Iran chooses to retaliate. As per the US president, the nuclear sites of Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow were targeted….Read More
Israel thanked Trump and the US for making the Middle East a “safer place” after its strikes against Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further stated that Israel was informed in advance of the US’ strikes on Iran. In response to the US attack, Iran launched a barrage of missiles towards Israel, which have injured several people across the state.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the conflict has now crossed 400 in Iran, with the Iranian health ministry reporting 430 deaths. Health officials have further stated that over 3,500 people have been injured due to Israeli strikes and attacks in the region. In Israel, authorities have reported at least 24 deaths since the escalation of the conflict last week.
The conflict between Israel and Iran escalated after Israel’s military strikes under ‘Operation Rising Lion’, which targeted Iranian nuclear and military sites. In response, Iran has launched several drone attacks against Israel and continues to do so as the conflict enters its second week.
Iran Israel war | Latest developments here –