Iran FM says war must end when Tehran has ‘upper hand’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the IRNA state news agency in an interview on Monday that the war with the US «must be ended exactly at the point where you have the upper hand in the field.»
«The end of the war is possible either through absolute military victory or through negotiations,» Araghchi said.
«The right time to negotiate is precisely when you have achieved a reliable field and strategic achievement on the military front,» he added. «A politician must always ask this fundamental question: will continuing the war increase the achievements or the losses?»
-ABC News’ Victoria Beaule
1 hour and 17 minutes ago
US strikes hit 9 Iranian cities overnight, state media says
Iranian state news agency IRNA reported US strikes on at least nine towns and cities overnight.
Bushehr, Tabriz, Urmia, Bandar Imam Khomeini, Jask, Sirik, Mahshahr, Chabahar and Konarak were attacked in the latest wave of American attacks, IRNA said.
IRAN quoted local officials as saying that at least one person was killed and several people injured in strikes on Tabriz.
Smoke rises from an explosion at an unknown location, during what US Central Command said were strikes on Iran, in this still image taken from a handout video released on July 19, 2026.
US Central Command/via Reuters
-ABC News’ Victoria Beaule
Kuwait reports fresh Iranian attacks, Bahrain sounds sirens
The Kuwaiti Army issued a statement on Monday saying its air defenses «are currently confronting attacks by hostile drones,» again condemning «Iranian aggression.»
In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry said that its air raid sirens were sounded at least twice on Monday morning. The Bahrain Defense Force later confirmed fresh Iranian attacks on the kingdom.
-ABC News’ Victoria Beaule
Jul 19, 2026, 10:20 PM EDT
Fighter jets based in United Kingdom and Germany sent to Middle East
A US official told ABC News that US fighter jets stationed in the United Kingdom and Germany are being sent to the Middle East.
They include F-16’s stationed in Germany and F-35 fighters stationed in the UK, according to the official.
Air & Space Forces Magazine was first to report the deployment of additional fighters to the Middle East.
There are currently 50,000 US troops in the Middle East.
-ABC News’ Luis Martinez
