United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez have condemned the attack on a Palau-flagged tanker off the coast of Oman, in which three Indian seafarers were killed.

Spokesperson for the UN Chief, Stéphane Dujarric, said Mr Guterres is deeply concerned by the continuing escalation. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the IMO underscored the need to protect seafarers, civilian shipping, and the freedom of navigation at all times.

The IMO said it is monitoring the situation closely and has called for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

On the situation in West Asia, Mr Guterres urged the parties to return to full implementation of the ceasefire and to avoid any further deterioration. The Secretary-General underscored that the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms, in accordance with international law, must be respected.

On Wednesday, the United States struck a Palau-flagged tanker, MT Settebello, killing three out of the 24 Indian sailors on board.

In the UK, Armed Forces Minister Al Carns has resigned from the Starmer government following the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey, amid a dispute with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over funding for the military.

Al Carns resigned yesterday, writing to Sir Keir that the government’s defence investment plan was neither transformative enough nor sufficiently funded.

This came after Healey resigned in a scathing letter, stating that the level of military spending proposed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer falls well short of what is needed to protect the country.

Dan Jarvis, the Security Minister and a former British Army officer, has been appointed to replace Healey in the cabinet role.

The United States has carried out a second consecutive night of what it described as “self-defence” strikes against Iranian military infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions in West Asia.

US Central Command said the strikes targeted air defence, radar, and surveillance facilities in southern Iran, including sites used to monitor maritime traffic. Explosions were reported in and around Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island, as the confrontation entered a more dangerous phase.

In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on several US military facilities across the region, calling them retaliation for the latest American action.

Iranian military authorities also declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to commercial shipping and warned that vessels attempting to pass through could be targeted. However, the United States rejected the claim, insisting that commercial traffic continued to move through the strait and denying reports of any US naval vessels being struck.

The conflicting statements have increased uncertainty in global energy markets, with oil prices rising amid fears of possible disruption to energy supplies.

The military confrontation is now spreading beyond Iran’s borders. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it launched missile and drone attacks against US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan in retaliation for the latest American strikes. Iranian state media reported that twelve ballistic missiles were fired at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, with Tehran claiming damage to military facilities and aircraft shelters.

However, neither Jordan nor the United States has confirmed those claims. Reports indicate that air defence systems were activated and interceptions were carried out. Kuwait temporarily suspended air traffic as a precaution after reporting hostile aerial targets in its airspace, while Bahrain issued security alerts and reported interceptions of incoming drones.

Reports from Bahrain said drone debris fell in residential areas after interceptions, causing minor damage and injuries.  Governments in West Asia are urging residents to follow civil defence instructions as authorities monitor the rapidly evolving situation. With military activity reported across multiple countries and the security of key shipping lanes under strain, fears are growing that the conflict could enter a more unpredictable and dangerous phase.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Jordan issued an emergency advisory warning of missiles, drones and rockets in Jordanian airspace and urged citizens to seek shelter and remain indoors. The embassy advised residents to closely monitor official alerts as regional security conditions continue to deteriorate.

In Lebanon, local media reported an Israeli strike near Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military. The incident comes as fighting between Israel and Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon continues despite diplomatic efforts. 

A maritime emergency is unfolding near the port of Shinas in northern Oman after a commercial tanker caught fire, in what is now the third incident involving Indian-crewed vessels in Omani waters within 72 hours. The Indian Embassy in Muscat has confirmed it has learnt of an incident involving a vessel off the coast of Oman and is closely monitoring the situation, in close contact with local authorities. The vessel is identified in maritime reports as MT Jalveer, a Guinea-Bissau flagged tanker, with around 20 Indian crew members believed to be on board. Emergency coordination efforts by Omani authorities are under way, though the cause of the fire has not yet been independently confirmed.

The Jalveer incident follows the gravest development in this unfolding crisis – the confirmed deaths of three Indian sailors aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello, struck by US forces off Oman’s coast last night. Union Shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed today that three Indian sailors aboard the MT Settebello were dead, calling it a profound loss to the country’s maritime community. The vessel was struck after a US warplane fired precision munitions into its engine room. Of the 24 Indian nationals aboard, 21 were rescued by Omani responders.

The IMO Secretary-General condemned any act from any party that endangers the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping. The Settebello strike was itself the second such incident in two days – on June 8, the MT Marivex was disabled by a US precision strike in the same waters, though all 24 Indian crew were rescued safely by Omani authorities. Shipping minister Sonowal said officials have been instructed to fast-track the repatriation of the 21 Settebello survivors and ensure the swift return of the bodies of the deceased. The MT Jalveer situation continues to develop.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully secured the deportation of Ganesh Balaso Kale from Thailand to India in connection with a cybercrime fraud case.

The deportation was carried out in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Embassy of India in Thailand. According to the CBI, the accused allegedly ran a cyber financial fraud network by recruiting unsuspecting individuals into the scam. Victims were lured with offers of online part-time jobs and persuaded to make monetary deposits as investments.

Acting on an Interpol Red Notice, the accused was traced to Thailand and detained by Thai authorities in Bangkok last month. Following due legal procedures and close cooperation between Indian and Thai agencies, he was deported to India. The accused arrived in Mumbai today, where he was taken into custody by the Cyber Cell of the Maharashtra Police for further investigation. 

External Affairs Minister D S Jaishankar has said that India’s ties with Bulgaria are long-standing and consistent and the  task for both countries now is to reshape them into a more dynamic and forward-looking relationship.

He said this after his meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Velislava Petrova-Chamova in Bulgaria. Dr Jaishankar noted that their discussions had three dimensions, first being the bilateral cooperation between India and Bulgaria, Second partnership between India and the European Union and lastly  about how stronger countries can work together for global stability and progress.  

Dr Jaishankar underlined that India has a clear position on Economic security, recent experiences of disruption, and the growing threat of terrorism. He added that India believes that this is not an era of war and the only solution to conflicts lies in dialogue and diplomacy. Dr Jaishankar added that when it comes to economic risks, the answer lies in resilient supply chains and greater diversification. He stressed the importance of ensuring that maritime trade is neither impeded nor endangered.